Development of chitosan-hyaluronic acid based hydrogel for local delivery of doxycycline hyclate in an skin infection model.

Doxycycline hyclate (DOXY) is a tetracycline derivative known as the broad-spectrum bacteriostatic drug. DOXY has been suggested as the first-line antibiotic for diabetic foot ulcers (DFU). Unfortunately, the long-term availability of DOXY in both oral and conventional topical dosage forms reduces its therapeutic effectiveness, which is closely linked to gastrointestinal side effects and acute pain during therapy, as well as uncontrolled DOXY release at the wound site.