Radiation Crosslinked Marine Polysaccharide Aqueous Gel Quercetin Silver Nanocomposite for Synergistic Treatment of Acne

Abstract

Acne vulgaris, a globally prevalent inflammatory dermatosis, necessitates innovative therapeutic strategies to address antibiotic resistance and oxidative stress amplification. This study aims to develop AgQ@GSC—a radiation crosslinked hydrogel of marine polysaccharide based on carboxymethyl chitosan/sodium alginate, adding quercetin and silver nanoparticles. The structural characterization showed that the hydrogel formed a stable three-dimensional network, 90.2% ± 3.1% of silver ions were released within 20 min, and quercetin was released continuously for 24 h. The hydrogel demonstrated broad-spectrum antimicrobial efficacy against acne-associated pathogens, achieving inhibition zones of 33.33 ± 2.08 mm for Propionibacterium acnes and 31.16 ± 1.28 mm for Staphylococcus aureus, with over 40% bacterial biofilm clearance. Meanwhile, the antioxidant efficiency of the hydrogel was up to 73.7% ± 1.3% at 24 h. At the same time, the hydrogel showed excellent biocompatibility for a hemolysis rate of less than 5% and a 24 h L929 cell survival rate of over 130% attributable to the dual-chelation of quercetin and Ag+. In vivo, evaluations using a P. acnes and acid oil dual-induced rat model demonstrated that the gel could accelerate lesion resolution. This work highlights the potential of combining antimicrobial nanoparticles with natural phytochemicals for effective acne therapy.