A superporous and superabsorbent glucuronoxylan hydrogel from quince (Cydonia oblanga): Stimuli responsive swelling, on-off switching and drug release

•Stimuli responsive swelling behavior of Quince hydrogel (QH).•Swelling mechanism and kinetics of QH.•Normal saline, pH and ethanol responsive swelling-deswelling of QH.•Superporous interconnected channeling in QH studied by SEM.•Sustained release of levosulpiride.

Current study was designed to investigate micromeritic properties, water absorption capacity, stimuli (pH, ethanol and saline) responsive swelling-deswelling (on-off switching) and controlled drug release from the polysaccharide glucuronoxylan isolated from the seeds of Quince. The water retention capacity of Quince hydrogel (QH) was found admirable. The hydrogel also exhibited privileged swelling in water and basic buffers (pH 6.8 and 7.4) while insignificant swelling in acidic buffer (pH 1.2). The swelling kinetics of QH follows second order. Moreover, QH deswells in salt (KCl and NaCl) solutions and ethanol. SEM of swollen then freeze dried QH revealed hollow channels with an average diameter of 67.8 μm. Furthermore, QH sustained the release of levosulpiride (LS) tablet formulation and drug release mechanism was ascertained super case-II transport. These results signify QH a smart material for sustained release formulations.