In situ fabricated ZnO nanostructures within carboxymethyl cellulose-based ternary hydrogels for wound healing applications.

Zinc oxide nanostructures (ZnO NS) were fabricated in situ within a ternary hydrogel system composed of carboxymethyl cellulose-agarose-polyvinylpyrrolidone (CAP@ZnO TNCHs) by a one-pot method employing moist-heat solution casting. The percentages of CMC and ZnO NS were varied in the CAP hydrogel films and then they were investigated by different techniques, such as ATR/FTIR, TGA, XRD, XPS, and FE-SEM analysis. Furthermore, the mechanical properties, hydrophilicity, swelling, porosity, and antibacterial activity of the CAP@ZnO TNCHs were studied. In-vitro biocompatibility assays were performed with skin fibroblast (CCD-986sk) cells. In-vitro culture of CCD-986sk fibroblasts showed that the ZnO NS facilitated cell adhesion and proliferation. Furthermore, the application of CAP@ZnO TNCHs enhanced cellular interactions and physico-chemical, antibacterial bacterial, and biological performance relative to unmodified CAP hydrogels. Also, an in vivo wound healing study verified that the CAP@ZnO TNCHs promoted wound healing significantly within 18 days, an effect superior to that of unmodified CAP hydrogels. Hence, these newly developed cellulose-based ZnO TNCHs are promising materials for wound healing applications.

Vanillin/fungal-derived carboxy methyl chitosan/polyvinyl alcohol hydrogels prepared by freeze-thawing for wound dressing applications.

In this study, we developed hydrogels using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), vanillin (V), and a fungus-derived carboxymethyl chitosan (FC) using a freeze-thaw-based method. These hydrogels were strengthened by bonding, including Schiff's base bonding between V and FC and hydrogen bonding between PVA, FC, and V. The physiological properties of these PFCV hydrogels were characterized by FTIR, TGA, compressive mechanical testing, and rheology and water contact angle measurements. FTIR spectra confirmed the effective integration of FC and V into the PVA network. TGA results showed that FC and V enhanced the thermal stability of PFCV hydrogels. Mechanical tests showed increasing the amount of V reduced mechanical properties but did not alter the elastic character of hydrogels. SEM images displayed a well-interconnected porous structure with excellent swelling capacity. In addition, we examined biological properties using cell-based in vitro studies and performed antibacterial assessments to assess suitability for potential wound dressing applications. Prestoblue™ and live/dead cell analysis strongly supported skin fibroblast attachment and viability, DPPH assays indicated substantial antioxidant activity, and PFCV hydrogels showed enhanced antibacterial effects against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli). In summary, incorporating V and FC into PVA hydrogels appears to be attractive for wound dressing applications.

Design of low-cost natural casein biopolymer based adsorbent for efficient adsorption of multiple anionic dyes and diclofenac sodium from aqueous solutions.

The treatment of various organic pollutants from industrial wastewater using bio-based materials has gained significant attention owing to their excellent properties such as low-cost, eco-friendly, non-toxic, and biodegradability. In this perspective, casein (Cn), a protein-based biopolymer, was extracted from the cow milk as a low-cost adsorbent, and the adsorption performances were determined for the pristine Cn. The adsorbent was employed for the removal of two different classes of targeted pollutant anionic dyes such as Congo red (CR), Eriochrome Black T (EBT), Eosin Y (EY), and pharmaceutical waste i.e., diclofenac sodium (DS) and displayed better adsorption performances with the maximum adsorption capacity of 85.54, 31.72, 70.42 and 358.42 mg g-1 respectively. The interactions between Cn and pollutants are mainly ascribed to the electrostatic interaction, hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic interaction, and π-π interactions. Furthermore, to validate with realistic application the adsorbent proved with an excellent removal efficiency of 91.43% for fabric whitener i.e., Ujala Supreme®. These obtained results suggest that the Cn could be the potential adsorbent to effectively eliminate toxic pollutants from the aqueous solutions.

Bone-like apatite formation in biocompatible phosphate-crosslinked bacterial cellulose-based hydrogels for bone tissue engineering applications.

Addressing major bone injuries is a challenge in bone regeneration, necessitating innovative 3D hydrogel-based therapeutic approaches to enhance scaffold properties for better bioactivity. Bacterial cellulose (BC) is an excellent scaffold for bone tissue engineering due to its biocompatibility, high porosity, substantial surface area, and remarkable mechanical strength. However, its practical application is limited due to a lack of inherent osteogenic activity and biomineralization ability. In this study, we synthesized bone-like apatite in biocompatible BC hydrogel by introducing phosphate groups. Hydrogels were prepared using fibrous BC, acrylamide (AM), and bis [2-methacryloyloxy] ethyl phosphate (BMEP) as a crosslinker through free radical polymerization (P-BC-PAM). P-BC-PAM hydrogels exhibited outstanding compressive mechanical properties, highly interconnected porous structures, good swelling, and biodegradable properties. BMEP content significantly influenced the physicochemical and biological properties of the hydrogels. Increasing BMEP content enhanced the fibrous structure, porosity from 85.1 % to 89.5 %, and compressive mechanical strength. The optimized hydrogel (2.0P-BC-PAM) displayed maximum compressive stress, toughness, and elastic modulus at 75 % strain: 221 ± 0.08 kPa, 24,674.2 ± 978 kPa, and 11 ± 0.47 kPa, respectively. P-BC-PAM hydrogels underwent biomineralization in simulated body fluid (SBF) for 14 days, forming bone-like apatite with a Ca/P ratio of 1.75, similar to hydroxyapatite. Confirmed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), this suggests their potential as scaffolds for bone tissue engineering. MC3T3-E1 osteoblast cells effectively attached and proliferated on P-BC-PAM. In summary, this study contributes insights into developing phosphate-functionalized BC-based hydrogels with potential applications in bone tissue engineering.

2D MXenes Nanosheets for Advanced Energy Conversion and Storage Devices: Recent Advances and Future Prospects.

Since the initial MXenes were discovered in 2011, several MXene compositions constructed using combinations of various transition metals have been developed. MXenes are ideal candidates for different applications in energy conversion and storage, because of their unique and interesting characteristics, which included good electrical conductivity, hydrophilicity, and simplicity of large-scale synthesis. Herein, we study the current developments in two-dimensional (2D) MXene nanosheets for energy storage and conversion technologies. First, we discuss the introduction to energy storage and conversion devices. Later, we emphasized on 2D MXenes and some specific properties of MXenes. Subsequently, research advances in MXene-based electrode materials for energy storage such as supercapacitors and rechargeable batteries is summarized. We provide the relevant energy storage processes, common challenges, and potential approaches to an acceptable solution for 2D MXene-based energy storage. In addition, recent advances for MXenes used in energy conversion devices like solar cells, fuel cells and catalysis is also summarized. Finally, the future prospective of growing MXene-based energy conversion and storage are highlighted.

Sugarcane-bagasse-ash in enhanced mesophilic Co-digestion for biogas and nutrient recovery: A concept of developing rural circular bioeconomy.

Conductive agro-industrial wastes as accelerants in the anaerobic digestion (AD) of organic waste is a good technique for developing a rural circular economy, such as producing bioenergy and biofertilizer. This study disclosed the a role of sugar cane bagasse ash (SCBA) in enhancing the bioenergy (biogas) yield and digestate fertility via anaerobic co-digestion (AcoD) of buffalo dung (BD) and vegetable residue (VR) under mesophilic conditions (37 á´¼C). Firstly, an optimal BD/VR ratio (1:3) was determined based on biogas yield by introducing five different BD/VR ratios (1:0, 3:1, 1:1, 1:3, and 0:1) into AcoD systems. Secondly, the biogas yield was increased further by adding SCBA at five different concentrations (0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, and 2 wt%). Experimental results disclosed that the 1.5 wt% of SCBA gave the highest cumulative biogas yield (153.67 mL/g VS), COD removal rate (31.18%), and fertility (5.08%). Moreover, a framework is suggested to understand the role of SCBA in the enhanced DIET mechanism. This work documents an environmentally friendly and economical technique for developing a rural circular bioeconomy via the AD of organic agro-waste.

Hyaluronic Acid Modified Metal Nanoparticles and Their Derived Substituents for Cancer Therapy: A Review.

The use of metal nanoparticles (M-NPs) in cancer therapy has gained significant consideration owing to their exceptional physical and chemical features. However, due to the limitations, such as specificity and toxicity towards healthy cells, their application in clinical translations has been restricted. Hyaluronic acid (HA), a biocompatible and biodegradable polysaccharide, has been extensively used as a targeting moiety, due to its ability to selectively bind to the CD44 receptors overexpressed on cancer cells. The HA-modified M-NPs have demonstrated promising results in improving specificity and efficacy in cancer therapy. This review discusses the significance of nanotechnology, the state of cancers, and the functions of HA-modified M-NPs, and other substituents in cancer therapy applications. Additionally, the role of various types of selected noble and non-noble M-NPs used in cancer therapy are described, along with the mechanisms involved in cancer targeting. Additionally, the purpose of HA, its sources and production processes, as well as its chemical and biological properties are described. In-depth explanations are provided about the contemporary applications of HA-modified noble and non-noble M-NPs and other substituents in cancer therapy. Furthermore, potential obstacles in optimizing HA-modified M-NPs, in terms of clinical translations, are discussed, followed by a conclusion and future prospects.

Antibacterial, biocompatible, hemostatic, and tissue adhesive hydrogels based on fungal-derived carboxymethyl chitosan-reduced graphene oxide-polydopamine for wound healing applications.

In this study, we developed biocompatible, fungus-derived carboxymethyl chitosan (FCMCS)-reduced graphene oxide (rGO)-polydopamine (PDA)-polyacrylamide (PAM) (FC-rGO-PDA) hydrogels with excellent antibacterial, hemostatic, and tissue adhesive properties for wound healing applications. FC-rGO-PDA hydrogels were prepared by the alkali-induced polymerization of DA followed by the incorporation of GO and its reduction during the polymerization AM to form a homogeneously dispersed PAM network structure in FCMCS solution. The formation of rGO was verified using UV-Vis spectra. The physicochemical properties of hydrogels were characterized by FTIR, and SEM, water contact angle measurements, and compressive studies. SEM and contact angle measurements showed that hydrogels were hydrophilic with interconnected pores and a fibrous topology. In addition, hydrogels adhered well to porcine skin with an adhesion strength of 32.6 ± 1.3 kPa, . The hydrogels exhibited viscoelastic, good compressive (77.5 kPa), swelling, and biodegradation properties. An in vitro study using skin fibroblasts and keratinocytes cells showed the hydrogel had good biocompatibility. Testing against two model bacteria, viz. Staphylococcus aureus and E. coli revealed that the FC-rGO-PDA hydrogel has antibacterial activity. Furthermore, the hydrogel exhibited hemostasis properties. Overall, the developed FC-rGO-PDA hydrogel has antibacterial and hemostasis properties, high water holding capacity, and excellent tissue adhesive properties, which make it a promising candidate for wound healing applications.

Doxorubicin-Loaded Fungal-Carboxymethyl Chitosan Functionalized Polydopamine Nanoparticles for Photothermal Cancer Therapy.

In this work, we synthesized doxorubicin-loaded fungal-carboxymethyl chitosan (FC) functionalized polydopamine (Dox@FCPDA) nanoparticles for improved anticancer activity via photothermal drug release. The photothermal properties revealed that the FCPDA nanoparticles with a concentration of 400 µg/mL produced a temperature of about 61.1 °C at 2 W/cm2 laser illumination, which is more beneficial for cancer cells. Due to the hydrophilic FC biopolymer, the Dox was successfully encapsulated into FCPDA nanoparticles via electrostatic interactions and pi-pi stacking. The maximum drug loading and encapsulation efficiency were calculated to be 19.3% and 80.2%, respectively. The Dox@FCPDA nanoparticles exhibited improved anticancer activity on HePG2 cancer cells when exposed to an NIR laser (800 nm, 2 W/cm2). Furthermore, the Dox@FCPDA nanoparticles also improved cellular uptake with HepG2 cells. Therefore, functionalizing FC biopolymer with PDA nanoparticles is more beneficial for drug and photothermal dual therapeutic properties for cancer therapy.

Fungal Carboxymethyl Chitosan-Impregnated Bacterial Cellulose Hydrogel as Wound-Dressing Agent.

Bacterial cellulose (BC) produced by Gluconoacetobacter hansenii is a suitable polymeric fiber network for wound-dressing purposes, but its lack of antibacterial properties limits it from healing bacterial wounds. We developed hydrogels by impregnating fungal-derived carboxymethyl chitosan to BC fiber networks using a simple solution immersion method. The CMCS-BC hydrogels were characterized using various characterization techniques such as XRD, FTIR, water contact angle measurements, TGA, and SEM to know the physiochemical properties. The results show that the impregnation of CMCS into BC fiber networks greatly influences BC's improving hydrophilic nature, which is crucial for wound healing applications. Furthermore, the CMCS-BC hydrogels were studied for biocompatibility analysis with skin fibroblast cells. The results revealed that by increasing the CMCS content in the BC, biocompatibility, cell attachment, and spreading capacity also increase. The antibacterial activity of CMCS-BC hydrogels is shown using the CFU method against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). As a result, the CMCS-BC hydrogels exhibit more suitable antibacterial properties than those without BC due to the CMCS having amino groups that enhance antibacterial properties. Therefore, CMCS-BC hydrogels can be considered suitable for antibacterial wound dressing applications.

Pectin Based Hydrogels for Drug Delivery Applications: A Mini Review.

Over the past few decades, hydrogel systems using natural polymers have been expansively employed in drug delivery applications. Among the various reported biopolymer-based hydrogel drug delivery systems, pectin (Pec) is an exceptional natural polymer due to its unique functionalities and excellent properties such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, low-cost, and simple gelling capability, which has received considerable interest in the drug delivery fields. Since there is an increasing need for biomaterials with unique properties for drug delivery applications, in this review, hydrogels fabricated from natural pectin polymers were thoroughly investigated. Additionally, the present mini review aims to bring collectively more concise ways such as sources, extraction, properties, and various forms of Pec based hydrogel drug delivery systems and their toxicity concerns are summarized. Finally, the potential objectives and challenges based on pectin-based hydrogel drug delivery systems are also discussed.

Dual Responsive poly(vinyl caprolactam)-Based Nanogels for Tunable Intracellular Doxorubicin Delivery in Cancer Cells.

In this work, doxorubicin (Dox)-encapsulated poly(vinyl caprolactam) (PVCL)-based three-dimensional nanogel networks were developed and were crosslinked with disulfide linkages. The nanogels degrade rapidly to low molecular weight chains in the presence of the typical intracellular concentration of glutathione. Doxorubicin (Dox) was successfully encapsulated into these nanogels. The nanogels have a high drug loading of 49% and can be tailored to 182 nm to deliver themselves to the targeted cells and release Dox under dual stimuli conditions, such as redox and temperature. By evaluating cell viability in the HepG2 cell line, we observed that Dox-loaded nanogels effectively killed the cancer cell. Fluorescence microscopy results show that the nanogels could easily be internalized with HepG2 cells. The results confirm that the nanogels destabilized in intracellular cytosol via degradation of disulfide bonds in nanogels networks and release of the Dox nearby the nucleus. These carriers could be promising for cancer drug delivery.

Fungal-derived carboxymethyl chitosan blended with polyvinyl alcohol as membranes for wound dressings.

Multifunctional blend membranes composed of poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and fungal mushroom-derived carboxymethyl chitosan (F-CMCS) were produced using a simple solution casting technique for wound dressing applications. The structural interactions between PVA and F-CMCS were confirmed by Fourier infrared spectroscopy. The crystallinity of the membranes was examined by X-ray diffraction. Field emission scanning electron microscopy confirmed the homogeneity and coarser texture with a porous-like network in the internal structure of the membranes. The hydrophilicity, swelling, and degradation of the fabricated membranes were examined according to the F-CMCS content. The PVA/F-CMCS membrane displayed potential antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli (gram-negative) and Staphylococcus (gram-positive) bacteria. An in vitro cell study of skin fibroblasts and keratinocytes on the PVA/F-CMCS membranes confirmed the biocompatibility. The hemolysis assay demonstrated the hemocompatibility of the developed membranes. The antibacterial, biocompatibility, and good hemolysis in the PVA membrane were influenced by the F-CMCS composition ratio up to 40%. The all-inclusive properties of the PVA/F-CMCS membranes highlight its potential use in wound dressing applications.

Hemostatic, biocompatible, and antibacterial non-animal fungal mushroom-based carboxymethyl chitosan-ZnO nanocomposite for wound-healing applications.

In this study, non-animal mushroom carboxymethyl chitosan (NAM-CMCS) was used as a natural polymer stabilizing agent in the ultrasonic preparation of a ZnO nanocomposite at ambient laboratory temperatures. The formation and morphology of the ZnO nanoparticles were investigated by applying FTIR, XRD, XPS, FE-SEM, and DLS techniques. The FTIR and XPS spectra confirmed the presence of NAM-CMCS functional groups and ZnO in the nanoparticles. The prepared NAM-CMCS-ZnO nanoparticles were shown by FE-SEM to have a spherical shape and an average diameter of 18 ± 3.6 nm. The DLS-determined size distribution showed the NAM-CMCS-ZnO nanoparticle size averaged 21 ± 2.9 nm. Finally, cytocompatibility, hemostasis, and antibacterial performance were assessed in vitro to evaluate the biological performance of NAM-CMCS-ZnO nanoparticles. In vitro Prestoblue® assay and live/dead test results from skin fibroblast and keratinocytes confirmed the developed NAM-CMCS-ZnO nanoparticles were biocompatible over a wide range of concentrations (0-500 µg/well). The NAM-CMCS-ZnO nanoparticles exhibited synergetic antibacterial properties against Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) bacteria. Moreover, the nanoparticles showed hemostatic properties with good hemocompatibility. The overall excellent biological properties of NAM-CMCS-ZnO nanoparticles indicate its suitability for use in wound dressing applications.

Mechanically improved porous hydrogels with polysaccharides via polyelectrolyte complexation for bone tissue engineering.

Bone tissue engineering aims to design mechanically improved macroporous hydrogels with fibrous topologies using polysaccharides that can provide an appropriate microenvironment in bone defects in order to enhance bone regeneration similar to the native bone extracellular matrix. Herein, we developed hydrogels by intercalation of chitosan (CS) and sodium alginate (SA)-based polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs) (in situ formation using glucuronic acid delta-galactone as an acidifying agent (GDL)) within the poly(acrylamide) (PAM)-crosslinked network (PEC-PAM) during free radical polymerization. The structure and interactions of PEC-PAM were confirmed by FTIR and XRD experiments. The PEC greatly influenced the porosity, pore size, and mechanical properties of hydrogels. Importantly, the PEC within the hydrogels possessed a macroporous structure with a ladder-like fibrous topology, which may provide better cell growth and adhesion. Moreover, the hydrogels showed good bio-mineralization capacity in simulated body fluid solutions as confirmed by FTIR, XRD, FE-SEM, and SEM-EDX. The in vitro performance of the PEC-PAM hydrogels was assessed towards human bone osteoblasts cells in terms of cell proliferation, biocompatibility, and cell adhesion. All of the results suggest that PEC-PAM hydrogels have good potential in bone tissue engineering.

Mussel-Inspired Cell/Tissue-Adhesive, Hemostatic Hydrogels for Tissue Engineering Applications.

The combination of multiple physiological (swelling, porosity, mechanical, and biodegradation) and biological (cell/tissue-adhesive, cell proliferation, and hemostatic) properties on a single hydrogel has great potential for skin tissue engineering. Adhesive hydrogels based on polydopamine (PDA) have become the most popular in the biomedical field; however, integrating multiple properties on a single adhesive hydrogel remains a challenge. Here, inspired by the chemistry of mussels, we developed PDA-sodium alginate-polyacrylamide (PDA-SA-PAM)-based hydrogels with multiple physiological and biological properties for skin tissue engineering applications. The hydrogels were prepared by alkali-induced polymerization of DA followed by complexation with SA in PAM networks. The chemical composition of the hydrogels was characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. PDA-SA complexed chains were homogeneously dispersed in the PAM network and exhibited good elasticity and excellent mechanical properties, such as a compressive stress of 0.24 MPa at a compression strain of 70% for 0.4PDA-SA-PAM. The adhesive hydrogel also maintained a highly interconnected porous structure (∼94% porosity) along with PDA microfibrils. The hydrogel possesses outstanding swelling and biodegradability properties. Owing to the presence of the PDA-SA complex in the PAM network, the hydrogels show good adhesion to various substrates (plastic, skin, glass, computer screens, and leaves); for example, the adhesive strength of the 0.4PDA-SA-PAM to porcine skin was 24.5 kPa. The adhesive component of the PDA-SA chains in the PAM network significantly improves the cell proliferation, cell attachment, cell spreading, and functional expression of human skin fibroblasts (CCD-986sk) and keratinocytes. Moreover, the PDA chains exhibited good hemostatic properties, resulting in rapid blood coagulation. Considering their excellent cell affinity, and rapid blood coagulation ability, these mussel-inspired hydrogels have substantial potential for skin tissue engineering applications.

One-pot synthesis of ZnO nanobelt-like structures in hyaluronan hydrogels for wound dressing applications.

In this study, hyaluronic acid-zinc oxide ((HA-ZnO) nanocomposite hydrogels (NCHs) were prepared by one-pot synthesis method. In particular, one-pot process facilitated the rapid formation of a network structure of HA hydrogel with 1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether (BDDE) crosslinker followed by the formation of ZnO nanobelt-like structures, which was confirmed using 1H NMR, FTIR, XRD, and SEM techniques. The rheology, swelling, and biodegradable behavior were assessed. The cell proliferation and adhesion were retained (similar to HA hydrogels) after the incorporation of ZnO in the hydrogels treated with Human Skin Fibroblasts (CCD-986k). An examination of the hemostatic property of the hydrogels confirmed the good hemostatic properties of HA-ZnO NCHs. An antibacterial study against both gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and gram-negative Escherichia coli bacteria revealed their excellent antibacterial efficacy. However, the antiadhesive bacterial property of HA hydrogels was slightly reduced with the incorporation of ZnO. In summary, one-pot synthesis of ZnO nanobelt-like structures in HA hydrogels may be excellent candidates for cell adhesive, hemostatic, and antibacterial materials for wound dressing applications.

pH and near-infrared active; chitosan-coated halloysite nanotubes loaded with curcumin-Au hybrid nanoparticles for cancer drug delivery.

In this work, we propose biofriendly in-situ preparation method of Au NPs (hexagonal and rod-shape structures) in the lumen as well as the surface cage of biocompatible halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) using curcumin (CUR) as anticancer drug and subsequently coating with bio-adhesive chitosan (CS) as a polysaccharide. The formation of Au NPs and their interactions with CUR and CS exist in the HNTs has been characterized by FTIR, XRD, XPS, STEM techniques. Interestingly, Au NPs showed longitudinal plasmon resonance bands at 760 and 980 nm that indicate the near-infrared (NIR) responsive property of hybrid nanoparticles. Rod shape and hexagonal structures of Au NPs were produced as confirmed by TEM images. The loading efficiency of CUR was found as much as 12%. Importantly, more CUR release was achieved under acidic conditions (pH 5.5) than basic conditions (pH 7.4). The anticancer potential of HNT hybrid nanoparticles on MCF-7 cancer cells was studied and showed efficient anticancer activity under intracellular tumor cell environment (pH 5.5) than extracellular conditions (pH 7.4). Moreover, the developed HNT hybrid nanoparticles consisting of Au NPs (NIR responsive property) and pH-responsive CUR release could make it suitable for cancer cell-targeted drug delivery platform with NIR-imaging.