Stimulus-responsive phototherapeutic micellar platform of Rose Bengal B: A new perspective for the treatment of wounds

Abstract Thermoresponsive micellar gels of Pluronic F127® and Carbopol C934P® blends have recently received interest as a dermatological platform for photosensitizer delivery in infected wounds. In this context, Rose Bengal B is an appropriate photosensitizer for minimizing bacteria strains that cause secondary infections of various wound groups. In this work, we proposed a micellar platform containing Rose Bengal B, ainming to treat dermatological wounds. The easy administration, on-site retention, and sustained photosensitizer delivery performance are some of the benefits that the system can combine. Sol-gel transition temperature, mechanic, rheologic, permeability properties, and bioadhesion analyses of formulation in ex vivo systems were examinated, using porcine ear skin. The formulates have shown appropriate gelling properties for topical treatments, with phase transition around 25 °C. Mechanic and rheologic analyses identified pseudoplastic behavior and thixotropy properties. This information reveals reductions in viscosity with shear stress, allowing easier mixing, pumping, bottling, and packing. Besides, these analyses showed the systems' viscoelasticity, a determining condition for an adequate formulation performance after its administration. In addition to all these benefits, formulates showed bioadhesive properties and a considerable skin permeation capacity of micelles that contained Rose Bengal B.