Biocompatible methyl cellulose/polyvinyl pyrrolidone biocomposite hydrogels for sustained release of quercetin drug

Hydrogels exhibit potential for controlled drug delivery; however, their clinical application is constrained by a low drug loading capacity, inadequate mechanical toughness, and frequently result in insufficient drug release performance. This research investigates biocomposite hydrogels composed of methyl cellulose (MC) and polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) for the delivery of quercetin (QC). The synthesized hydrogels were assessed for swelling, water vapor transmission rate, porosity, and rheological properties. Cytotoxicity assessments with Vero cells indicated that the MC/PVP/QC hydrogel exhibits biocompatibility. The MC/PVP/QC membrane exhibited significant antibacterial efficacy against E. coli and S. aureus. The porous MC/PVP/QC (6 %) hydrogel exhibits remarkable antioxidant and mechanical properties, with a maximum swelling capacity of 940 % at pH 7.4, rendering it an appropriate carrier for quercetin. The QC-loaded content in the MC/PVP/QC (6 %) formulation was measured at 94.06 ± 5.56 %. The QC drug release rate is 82 % at pH 7.4 (blood pH) and 52 % at pH 6.8 (Skin pH) after 72 h. Finally, the hydrogel exhibited controlled drug release of QC, highlighting its potential as a platform for developing next-generation drug carriers suitable for biomedical applications, especially in wound healing and other topical antibacterial applications.