Advanced Drug Delivery Strategies

The book focuses on the formulation and evaluation of quercetin-loaded in-situ gels for wound healing addressing the global challenge of chronic and acute wounds. Quercetin a natural flavonoid with strong antioxidant anti-inflammatory and pro-healing properties has limited clinical application due to poor solubility and bioavailability. To overcome this quercetin was incorporated into a thermoresponsive in-situ gel system using chitosan and hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) which remain liquid at room temperature but gel at physiological temperature ensuring localized sustained drug release. The prepared formulations were characterized for solubility viscosity syringeability pH gelation temperature and drug-polymer compatibility. Among them Formulation F4 showed optimal gelation appropriate viscosity good syringeability pH 5-5.5 suitable for topical application and sustained drug release following primarily zero-order kinetics indicating controlled concentration-independent release. The study demonstrated that the chitosan-HPC in-situ gel effectively delivered quercetin with improved therapeutic potential for wound healing.