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.