a novel dextran hydrogel linking transferulic acid for the stabilization and transdermal delivery of vitamin e longterm exposure of the skin to uv light causes degenerative effects which can be minimized by using antioxidant formulations the major challenge in this regard is that a significant amount of antioxidant should reach at the site for effective photoprotection however barrier properties of the skin limit their use in the present study vitamin e alphatocopherol was loaded into a dextran hydrogel containing ferulic moieties covalently linked to improve its topical delivery and also to increase its relative poor stability which is due to direct exposure to uv light methacrylic groups were first introduced onto the dextran polymer backbones then the obtained methacrylated dextran was copolymerized with aminoethyl methacrylate and subsequently esterificated with transferulic acid the new biopolymer was characterized by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy the values of content of phenolic groups were determined its ability in inhibiting lipid peroxidation in rat liver microsomal membranes induced in vitro by a source of free radicals that is tertbutyl hydroperoxide was studied hydrogel was also characterized for swelling behaviour vitamin e loading efficiency release and deposition on the rabbit skin additionally vitamin e deposition was compared through hydrogels respectively containing and not containing transferulic acid the results showed that ferulate hydrogel was a more effective carrier in protecting vitamin e from photodegradation than hydrogel without antioxidant moieties then antioxidant hydrogel could be of potential use for cosmetic and pharmaceutical purposes as carrier of vitamin e that is an antioxidant that reduces erythema photoaging photocarcinogenesis edema and skin hypersensitivity associated with exposure to ultraviolet b uvb radiation because of its protective effects