Development of green and sustainable smart biochromic and therapeutic bandage using red cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. Var. capitata) extract encapsulated into alginate nanoparticles

Abstract

Novel multifunctional wound dressing with the ability to protect, cure and sense the healing process, was developed. Red-cabbage extract has been reported to exhibit bioactive compounds with the ability to function as antioxidant, antiinflammatory, anticancer, antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral agent, as well as a natural pH-sensory chromophoric material. An anthocyanin extract was prepared from Red-cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. Var. capitata). The anthocyanins extract was encapsulated into calcium alginate in the presence of potash alum mordant, which was then applied to the surface of the cotton gauze. Red-cabbage based anthocyanin chromophoric extract was encapsulated at different concentrations into alginate-based hydrogel and immobilized into cotton gauze to provide a smart therapeutic pH-responsive wound dress to function as an antimicrobial and biochromic matrix providing a comfortable dress sensor to monitor the wound status. Decreasing the pH of a wound mimic solution caused a blue shift from 579 to 437 nm. The anthocyanin spectroscopic probe's halochromic activity demonstrated a colorimetric change from purple to pink, which was critical to the dyed cotton diagnostic assay's biochromic performance. The colorimetric parameters of the prepared dressing sensor were proved by UV–Vis absorbance and CIE Lab coordinates. Both mechanical and morphological properties of the prepared dressing were studied using different analytical methods. The effect of anthocyanin concentration on the mechanical, water vapor permeability, water absorption and morphological properties of the wound dressing were investigated. No substantial flaws in air-permeability or bend length were detected after dyeing. The colored cotton gauze samples were tested for their high colorfastness. The cytotoxicity and antimicrobial activity of the prepared biochromic cotton gauze were explored. The dyed cotton samples exhibited no cytotoxicity and improved antimicrobial activity with increasing the anthocyanin ratio on cotton surface.