pH-Responsive Cobalt(II)-Coordinated Assembly Containing Quercetin for Antimicrobial Applications

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Increasing antimicrobial resistance necessitates novel drug delivery systems (DDSs).
• Quercetin and its metal complexes show antibacterial potential but have limitations.
• Existing DDS face challenges in targeted drug release and efficacy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a pH-responsive DDS based on cobalt(II)-coordinated assembly with quercetin and polyacrylic acid.
• To investigate the pH-dependent drug release mechanism exploiting acidic infection sites.
• To enhance the binding and release capabilities of the DDS for improved therapeutic outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Spectrophotometric (UV-Vis) and calorimetric (ITC) techniques to study cobalt(II)-quercetin complex formation.
• Quartz Crystal Microbalance with Dissipation (QCM-D) monitoring for solid-liquid interface interactions.
• Analysis of solution equilibria and species formation for DDS design.

Main Results:

• Formation of cobalt(II) complexes with quercetin and polyacrylic acid was characterized.
• Binding affinities and thermodynamic parameters for drug-carrier interactions were determined.
• Evidence of pH-controlled drug loading and release by the DDS was established.

Conclusions:

• The proposed DDS demonstrates effective pH-responsive drug release for potential antibacterial applications.
• The study provides crucial thermodynamic and binding data for optimizing DDS performance.
• This approach offers a promising strategy to combat antimicrobial resistance through targeted drug delivery.