Photothermal-Responsive Polyvinyl Alcohol/Gelatin/Graphene Oxide Hydrogels Loaded with Quercetin for NIR-Triggered...

Photothermal therapy (PTT) has emerged as a promising medical strategy for controlled and targeted drug delivery, due to its ability to trigger rapid release while minimizing damage to surrounding environments. Among different near-infrared (NIR)-responsive nanomaterials, carbon materials are of particular interest due to their multifunctional properties, with graphene oxide (GO) being a powerful photothermal therapy agent that can accelerate stimuli-responsive drug release. Herein, novel stimuli-responsive hydrogels based on polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), gelatin (Gel) and GO, loaded with natural quercetin (Q) were developed and evaluated for their physico-chemical properties, antibacterial and antifungal activities, photothermal Q release, and cellular metabolic activity. Upon NIR laser irradiation, after 10 min, Q was released twice as fast compared to conventional drug release without stimulation. The rapid release of Q by applying light radiation highlights the suitability of these hydrogels for controlled drug delivery applications. The PVA:Gel:GO/Q-hydrogels exhibited strong antimicrobial and antifungal performance (≥90% microbial reduction at higher GO concentrations). Furthermore, a significant reduction in S. aureus adhesion and invasion indicates the sample's potential to mitigate bacterial infections. The PVA:Gel:GO/Q formulations exhibited high biocompatibility in Human Dermal Fibroblasts (HDF), demonstrating that Q improves the safety of PVA:Gel:GO-loaded hydrogels. These results offer promising potential for PVA:Gel:GO/Q hydrogels as advanced materials for photothermal-triggered drug delivery and antimicrobial applications.