Biodegradable gelatin–ciprofloxacin–montmorillonite composite hydrogels for controlled drug release and wound dressing application

•Intercalation of ciprofloxacin into layered nanostructure silicate.•Ciprofloxacin loaded MMT conglomeration with gelatin that yields 3D structure.•Characterization, in vitro drug release and in vitro testing on lung cancer cells (A549).•In vitro cell migration and proliferation assay.•In vitro biodegradation studied using proteolytic enzymes. This work reports intercalation of a sparingly soluble antibiotic (ciprofloxacin) into layered nanostructure silicate, montmorillonite (MMT) and its reaction with bone derived polypeptide, gelatin that yields three-dimensional composite hydrogel. Drug intercalation results in changes in MMT layered space and drug loaded MMT and gelatin creates 3D morphology with biodegradable composite hydrogels. These changes can be correlated with electrostatic interactions between the drug, MMT and the gelatin polypeptides as confirmed by X-ray diffraction patterns, thermal, spectroscopic analyses, computational modeling and 3D morphology revealed by SEM and TEM analysis. No significant changes in structural and functional properties of drug was found after intercalation in MMT layers and composite hydrogels. In vitro drug release profiles showed controlled release up to 150h. The drug loaded composite hydrogels were tested on lung cancer cells (A549) by MTT assay. The results of in vitro cell migration and proliferation assay were promising as composite hydrogels induced wound healing progression. In vitro biodegradation was studied using proteolytic enzymes (lysozyme and protease K) at physiological conditions. This new approach of drug intercalation into the layered nanostructure silicate by ion-exchange may have significant applications in cost-effective wound dressing biomaterial with antimicrobial property.