Figure 7.

Quercetin permeation profile through the PVPA_SC barrier. (A) Apparent permeability (P_app) of quercetin at 3 h; (B) Amount of permeated quercetin (%) as a function of time obtained for free quercetin and quercetin-loaded SA-PVA hydrogels. **** p < 0.0001 for all hydrogel formulations vs. free quercetin at 24 h; # p < 0.05 for 1/1 vs. 1/2 hydrogel formulation and &&&& p < 0.0001 for 2/1 vs. 1/2 hydrogel formulation both at 24 h. (C) Distribution of quercetin among permeated, retained, and non-permeated through the PVPA_SC after 24 h. The bars/points represent the mean ± SD of the permeability for at least three independent experiments (n = 3). * p < 0.05 for 2/1 hydrogel formulation vs. other formulations and free quercetin remained in apical medium.