Chlorhexidine Digluconate Uptake and Release from Alkane-crosslinked Nanocellulose Hydrogels and Subsequent Antimicrobial Effect

Drug release profiles of novel alkane-crosslinked nanocellulose hydrogels were investigated. The common antiseptic compound chlorhexidine digluconate (CHX-DG) was loaded into the nanocellulose hydrogels, and the release kinetics were studied under two different release regimes. The hydrogels were effective at absorbing more than their dry weights of the antiseptic and retaining it during diffusion testing, with more than 60% of the drug retained in the hydrogels. Antimicrobial tests showed sustained antimicrobial activity of the CHX-DG-loaded hydrogels even after the two diffusion tests, which was attributable to non-ionic retention of the CHX-DG within the hydrogel structure.