Valorization of Gleditsia triacanthos Invasive Plant Cellulose Microfibers and Phenolic Compounds for Obtaining Multi-Functional Wound Dressings with Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Properties.

Ioana Cristina Marinas,Ioana Cristina Marinas,Elisabeta-Irina Geana,Mariana Carmen Chifiriuc,Eliza Oprea,Oana Tutunaru,Irina Zgura,Gratiela Gradisteanu Pircalabioru

doi:10.3390/ijms22010033

Abstract

Gleditsia triacanthos is an aggressive invasive species in Eastern Europe, producing a significant number of pods that could represent an inexhaustible resource of raw material for various applications. The aim of this study was to extract cellulose from the Gleditsia triacanthos pods, characterize it by spectrophotometric and UHPLC–DAD-ESI/MS analysis, and use it to fabricate a wound dressing that is multi-functionalized with phenolic compounds extracted from the leaves of the same species. The obtained cellulose microfibers (CM) were functionalized, lyophilized, and characterized by ATR-FTIR and SEM. The water absorption and retention capacity as well as the controlled release of phenolic compounds with antioxidant properties evaluated in temporal dynamics were also determined. The antimicrobial activity against reference and clinical multi-drug-resistant Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii, Enterobacter cloacae, Candida albicans, and Candida parapsilosis strains occurred immediately after the contact with the tested materials and was maintained for 24 h for all tested microbial strains. In conclusion, the multi-functionalized cellulose microfibers (MFCM) obtained from the reproductive organs of an invasive species can represent a promising alternative for the development of functional wound dressings with antioxidant and antimicrobial activity, as well as being a scalable example for designing cost-effective, circular bio-economy approaches to combat the accelerated spread of invasive species.

Highlights

Micro- and nanomaterials derived from biological macromolecules are used in a wide range of industrial, technological, and biomedical applications, e.g., for adsorption, ultrafiltration, packaging, preservation of historical artefacts, thermal insulators, and fire retardants, energy extraction and storage, acoustics, sensory, controlled delivery of drugs, and especially tissue engineering
By comparing the FTIR spectra of cellulose microfibers (CM), multi-functionalized cellulose microfibers (MFCM), and the dry extract, we identified four specific bands for MFCM that were not found in the other spectra, at the wavenumbers 779 cm−1, 1338 cm−1
By comparing the FTIR spectra of CM, MFCM, and the dry extract, we identified four specific bands for MFCM that were not found in the other spectra, at the wavenumbers 779 cm−1, 1338 cm−1 (C–O stretching, C–H, 1442 cm−1 (C–C stretching vibration in aromatic ring), and 1558 cm−1 (C=C–C aromatic ring stretch) [19]

Summary

Introduction

Micro- and nanomaterials derived from biological macromolecules are used in a wide range of industrial, technological, and biomedical applications, e.g., for adsorption, ultrafiltration, packaging, preservation of historical artefacts, thermal insulators, and fire retardants, energy extraction and storage, acoustics, sensory, controlled delivery of drugs, and especially tissue engineering Due to their mechanical robustness, hydrophilicity, biocompatibility, and good biodegradability, micro- and nanocellulose have specific functions, such as tissue repair, regeneration, and healing, and they are antimicrobial nanomaterials with shape memory and intelligent membranes [1,2]. Microcellulose fibers can be obtained from different plant species (including invasive ones), such as bamboo [6], Artemisia vulgaris [2], and banana plant wastes [7]

Objectives

Methods

Conclusion