Characterization and biological evaluation of PVA/PVP hydrogel enriched with SeaUrchin<i> (Diadema</i><i> setosum)</i> lipid extract

This study aimed to develop a bioactive hydrogel by incorporating lipid compounds extracted from the gonads of the sea urchin (Diadema setosum) into a polyvinyl alcohol/polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVA/PVP) polymer matrix. The fatty acid composition of the lipid extract was determined by gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC-FID), revealing palmitic acid, stearic acid, trans-linolelaidic acid, n-6 linoleic acid, and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) as major components. The swelling behavior, zeta potential, and stability of the PVA/ PVP-D. setosum hydrogel were analyzed, and its thermal, structural, and morphological properties were characterized using DSC-TGA, FTIR, and SEM techniques. The hydrogel exhibited high stability (-58.6 +/- 0.04 mV) and a larger particle size (729.6 d.nm) compared to free PVA/PVP (356 d.nm). TGA results indicated only a 10.04 % weight loss between 40-250 degrees C, confirming good thermal resistance. Antibacterial tests showed inhibition zones of 1.9 mm (A. baumannii), 2.3 mm (K. pneumoniae), 4.1 mm (E. faecalis), and 5.0 mm (S. aureus), with corresponding MIC values of 188.2, 179.1, 181.0, and 150.2 mL/mL. The hydrogel also exhibited 23.5 % alpha-amylase inhibition at 80 mu L/mL, while fibroblast proliferation increased up to 739.9 % at 0.05 mg/mL, indicating excellent biocompatibility. Overall, the PVA/PVP-D. setosum hydrogel demonstrated antibacterial, anti-diabetic, biocompatible, and thermally stable characteristics, highlighting its potential applications in wound dressings, food coatings, and agricultural biomaterials.