Abstract
Nature has led to the discovery of biopolymers with noteworthy pharmaceutical applications. Blended biopolymers have demonstrated promising characteristics when compared with their individual counterparts. Sodium alginate (SA) is a marine polymer that has demonstrated the ability to form hydrogels, an interesting property for the development of cutaneous formulations. Predicting the good performance of blended biopolymers, a novel series of hybrid hydrogels based on SA and poly(vinyl) alcohol (PVA) were prepared. Quercetin, a natural polyphenolic flavonoid commonly found in fruits and vegetables, is widely known for its strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity, thus with potential applications against melanoma, dermatitis, psoriasis, and skin ageing. Here, hydrogels were produced at different ratios of SA and PVA. The surface morphology, structure, interaction of polymers, the capacity to absorb water and the entrapment efficiency of quercetin were evaluated for the blended hydrogels. Targeting the cutaneous application of the formulations, the rheological properties of all unloaded and quercetin-loaded hydrogels revealed pseudoplastic behavior, evidence of non-thixotropy, good resistance to deformation, and profile maintenance with temperatures ranging from 20 °C up to 40 °C. The incorporation of quercetin in the hydrogel retained its antioxidant activity, confirmed by radical scavenging assays (ABTS and DPPH). The permeability of quercetin through the skin showed different penetration/permeation profiles according to the hydrogel’s blend. This behavior will allow the selection of SA-PVA at 2/1 ratio for a local and prolonged skin effect, making the use of these hydrogels a good solution to consider for the treatment of skin ageing and inflammation.
Highlights
Hydrogels are hydrophilic polymeric networks with high moisture content, biocompatibility, soft and flexible texture, mechanical properties similar to living tissues, and capacity to alter or control drug release
Hybrid hydrogels were prepared from various aqueous polymeric blends consisting of sodium alginate (SA) and poly(vinyl) alcohol (PVA), both biocompatible polymers
Three types of hydrogel samples differing in concentration of each polymer were produced to select the best blend composition able to deliver quercetin in the skin
Summary
Hydrogels are hydrophilic polymeric networks with high moisture content, biocompatibility, soft and flexible texture, mechanical properties similar to living tissues, and capacity to alter or control drug release. These features contribute to the growing attention for pharmaceutical and cosmetic applications. Besides the drawbacks associated with the physicochemical properties of quercetin, another major hindrance is the stratum corneum (SC) This outer layer hampers drug absorption through the skin resulting in low bioavailability. Among the most promising approaches, hydrogels appear as an attractive option, given their skin adhesiveness and hydration abilities Based on this evidence, the current study aimed to determine which combination of SA-PVA, considering different polymer ratios (1/1, 2/1, or 1/2), delivered quercetin to the skin, increasing its local bioavailability and maintaining its antioxidant activity. The resulting hybrid and Pharmaceutics 2020, 12, 1149 therapeutic hydrogels could represent a potential topical formulation for the treatment of skin ageing and inflammation
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