Antimicrobial Modified-Tragacanth Gum/Acrylic Acid Hydrogels for the Controlled Release of Quercetin

In this study, new antimicrobial hydrogels were prepared via reaction of functionalized-tragacanthgum (TG) biopolymer by quaternary ammonium functionalization of TG (QTG) with acrylic acid(AA). Characterization of the QTG hydrogels (QTG-AA) was carried out by FTIR,thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and 1H NMR. Dynamic mechanical analysis, (DMA) wasconducted to characterize the mechanical behavior of hydrogels. Swelling behavior of the QTGhydrogels exhibited dependence on the pH, immersion time, medium, and temperature. Loading andin-vitro drug release from the final hydrogels were studied by using quercetin as a model drug. Theresults exhibited the pH-sensitivity of the hydrogels for drug delivery. The antimicrobial effect ofthe prepared hydrogels was investigated against some standard microorganisms and the resultsdemonstrated that the hydrogels possess good antimicrobial activity against gram-positive andgram-negative bacteria as well as a fungus.