High Antibacterial Properties Research Articles

Fermentation-inspired macroporous and tough gelatin/sodium alginate hydrogel for accelerated infected wound healing

Gelatin and sodium alginate (SA) are two important biological macromolecules, exhibiting excellent biocompatibility and gel-forming ability. However, traditional SA and gelatin hydrogel displays limited mass transport, low porosity, instability, and poor mechanical properties extremely restricted their therapeutic effect and application scenarios. Herein, microbial fermentation and synergistic toughening strategies were used for preparing macroporous and tough hydrogel. The study investigated the fermentation and toughening conditions of hydrogel. The hydrogel composed of CaCl2 cross-linked physically network and EDC/NHS cross-linked covalently network, exhibiting significantly improved mechanical properties, and excellent recovery efficiency. In addition, the hydrogel has a hierarchical macroporous structure of 100–500 μm, demonstrating high porosity of 10 times, swelling rate of 1541.0 %, and high mass infiltration capability. Further, after Ag+ treatment, the macroporous hydrogel dressing showed outstanding biocompatibility. Compared with non-porous hydrogel, the resulting macroporous hydrogel dressing displayed high antibacterial and antioxidant properties. It could effectively alleviate intracellular ROS formation induced by H2O2.In vivo experiments indicated that it has significantly better effect than non-porous hydrogel in accelerating wound healing. The overall results suggest that the gelatin/SA-based macroporous and tough hydrogel proposed in this study holds excellent prospects for application in wound dressings.

Ionic-physical–chemical triple cross-linked all-biomass-based aerogel for thermal insulation applications

Aerogels, as a unique porous material, are expected to be used as insulation materials to solve the global environmental and energy crisis. Using chitosan, citric acid, pectin and phytic acid as raw materials, an all-biomass-based aerogel with high modulus was prepared by the triple strategy of ionic, physical and chemical cross-linking through directional freezing technique. Based on this three-dimensional network, the aerogel exhibited excellent compressive modulus (24.89 ± 1.76 MPa) over a wide temperature range and thermal insulation properties. In the presence of chitosan, citric acid and phytic acid, the aerogel obtained excellent fire safety (LOI value up to 31.2%) and antibacterial properties (antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli reached 81.98% and 67.43%). In addition, the modified aerogel exhibited excellent hydrophobicity (hydrophobic angle of 146°) and oil–water separation properties. More importantly, the aerogel exhibited a biodegradation rate of up to 40.31% for 35 days due to its all-biomass nature. This work provides a green and sustainable strategy for the production of highly environmentally friendly thermal insulation materials with high strength, flame retardant, antibacterial and hydrophobic properties.

Enhancing bioactive compound production in Salvia mirzayanii through elicitor application: Insights from in vitro and in silico studies

The use of elicitors stimulates the biosynthesis of diverse and unique plant compounds, providing a sustainable and eco-friendly method to access a wide range of potential therapeutics. This study aimed to assess the foliar application of various concentrations of elicitors, namely yeast extract, salicylic acid, and chitosan, on the metabolite profiling and biological activity of Salvia mirzayanii. Furthermore, in silico predictions were conducted to assess the molecular interactions between the ligands identified through GC/MS analysis and bacterial targets. Extracts obtained from treated plants exhibited significant antioxidant activity, with an IC50 range of 0.066–0.511 mg/mL, and higher antibacterial properties against Staphylococcus aureus, with a minimal inhibition concentration (MIC) range of 1.0–5.0 mg/mL, compared to untreated plants. Additionally, it was observed that 4 g/L yeast extract, 1 g/L yeast extract, 0.5 mmol/L salicylic acid, and 0.2 mmol/L chitosan showed the highest levels of stimulation in the production of novel compounds in S. mirzayanii compared to control plants. Moreover, in silico molecular docking analysis indicated that all ligands effectively bound to the active site of the S. aureus MetRS and FtsA proteins. The pharmacokinetic analysis revealed that sclareol oxide was identified as a safe ligand. Its dynamic behavioral characteristics within the protein complexes displayed high stability and a significantly stronger interaction with MetRS, with a free binding energy of −60.859 kJ/mol. These findings highlight the therapeutic potential of elicitor application in S. mirzayanii, as it enhances the production of bioactive compounds, emphasizing its therapeutic potential in functional foods.

Efficient solar-powered evaporator with multifunctional nanofiber

Interfacial solar steam generation is acknowledged as an extremely effective and environmentally friendly method of producing potable water. Nevertheless, significant challenges persist in the development of an evaporator capable of achieving heightened rates of evaporation, catalytic capabilities, resistance to bacterial proliferation, and effective light absorption across a broad spectrum. This article outlines the fabrication of a solar steam generator utilizing electrospinning technology and membrane evaporators constructed from α-Fe2O3/PAN (polyacrylonitrile) nanofibers. The integration of α-Fe2O3/PAN composite enhances both light absorption and heat generation. In sunlight, the maximum evaporation rate is 2.7 kg m−2 h−1, which is significantly more than the rate of today's cutting-edge solution-electrospun nanofiber-based evaporators. The electrospun mat has high catalytic activity and antibacterial properties, making it an important component in desalination.

In Situ Electrochemical Synthesis of Squamous-like Cu2S Induced by Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria as a Fenton-like Catalyst in Wastewater Treatment: Catalytic Performance and Mechanism.

In this paper, a novel method was proposed for the synthesis of Cu2S on copper mesh via electrolysis in SRB culture medium. It was found that following electrolysis in SRB medium, squamous-like Cu2S arrays were obtained on the copper mesh, and the Cu2S loading contents varied with the electrolyzing parameters. The resultant Cu2S on copper mesh in SRB (CSCM-SRB) with the highest catalytic MB degradation properties was produced by electrolysis at 3.75 mA/cm2 for 900 s. The optimized MB-degrading conditions were determined to be 1.2 cm2/mL CSCM-SRB with 0.05 M H2O2 at 35 °C when pH = 6, under which the degradation of MB reached over 99% after 120 min of reaction. Disinfecting properties was also proven by antibacterial tests, revealing that an almost 100% antibacterial rate against E. coli was obtained after 8 min. The organic compounds produced by SRB adsorbed on CSCM-SRB strongly promoted the degradation of MB. Furthermore, possible Fenton-like mechanisms of CSCM-SRB were proposed, illustrating that ·O2-, ·OH, and 1O2 acted as the main functional species during Fenton-like reactions, leading to effective MB degradation and high antibacterial properties. Finally, a simple device for wastewater treatment was designed, providing possible applications in real environments.

MOFs and MOF-Based Composites as Next-Generation Materials for Wound Healing and Dressings.

In recent years, there has been growing interest in developing innovative materials and therapeutic strategies to enhance wound healing outcomes, especially for chronic wounds and antimicrobial resistance. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) represent a promising class of materials for next-generation wound healing and dressings. Their high surface area, pore structures, stimuli-responsiveness, antibacterial properties, biocompatibility, and potential for combination therapies make them suitable for complex wound care challenges. MOF-based composites promote cell proliferation, angiogenesis, and matrix synthesis, acting as carriers for bioactive molecules and promoting tissue regeneration. They also have stimuli-responsivity, enabling photothermal therapies for skin cancer and infections. Herein, a critical analysis of the current state of research on MOFs and MOF-based composites for wound healing and dressings is provided, offering valuable insights into the potential applications, challenges, and future directions in this field. This literature review has targeted the multifunctionality nature of MOFs in wound-disease therapy and healing from different aspects and discussed the most recent advancements made in the field. In this context, the potential reader will find how the MOFs contributed to this field to yield more effective, functional, and innovative dressings and how they lead to the next generation of biomaterials for skin therapy and regeneration.

Self-adhesive, ionic conductive, environmentally tolerant, and antibacterial phytic acid-reinforced zwitterionic hydrogels as flexible sensor applications

Ionic conductive hydrogels have attracted tremendous research interest for their intrinsic characteristics in the field of flexible sensors. However, the combination of multifunctionalities of high mechanical strength, satisfactory self-adhesiveness, ionic conductivity, anti-freezing, antibacterial properties, and biocompatibility remains a great challenge for the development of ionic conductive hydrogels. In this study, a novel ionic conductive hydrogel was developed by introducing highly conductive phytic acid (PA) to poly(sulfobetaine methacrylate) (polySBMA). PA molecules, as non-covalent crosslinkers and electrolytes in the polySBMA network, significantly improved the mechanical properties, self-adhesion, and electrical properties of the hydrogels. The optimal hydrogel displayed robust mechanical properties (tensile stress: 240.7 kPa), desirable adhesive strength (18.6 kPa to pig skin), and excellent ionic conductivity (2.44 S/m). Simultaneously, the presence of PA confers hydrogels with good antibacterial, anti-freezing properties and long-term environmental stability, and the hydrogels could remain soft even at -40 °C. Moreover, the hydrogel-based sensors showed high sensitivity (gauge factor up to 9.72), wide sensing range (≈400%), good stability, and accuracy for physical and physiological signals (tensile strain, pressure, fluid types and concentrations). This work has not only provided a simple strategy for fabricating tough and recoverable zwitterionic hydrogels, but also demonstrated the multifunctional properties of the zwitterionic hydrogels, which possess a great potential to fulfill flexible device applications.

PLLA/(MWCNTs-ZnO)@PDA composite with NIR-light induced shape memory effect, antibacterial properties and 3D printability

PLLA based shape-memory polymer composites with multifunctions have attracted growing attention in biomedical applications. Generally, a single nanofiller has the problem of insufficient functionalization and easy aggregation. Therefore, we design and fabricate polydopamine (PDA) surface modified MWCNTs-ZnO hybrid nanostructure ((MWCNTs-ZnO)@PDA). The dispersion of (MWCNTs-ZnO)@PDA in PLLA is improved in comparison with the pristine MWCNTs or ZnO. The results indicate that the (MWCNTs-ZnO)@PDA nanosystem shows a synergistic effect on the mechanical properties and photothermal properties of the composites. Comparative analysis with neat PLLA demonstrates a remarkable 17% increase in tensile strength and a 19% increase in elongation at break for PLLA/(MWCNTs-ZnO)@PDA composite. Additionally, the composites exhibit excellent NIR light-induced shape memory effects with a shape recovery ratio reaching 100%. Moreover, PLLA/(MWCNTs-ZnO)@PDA composites show favorable antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). Furthermore, the polymer composites display good 3D printability, and the 3D-printed porous scaffold possesses high compressive strength and modulus. Also, the PLLA/(MCNTs-ZnO)@PDA scaffold can be compressed into a compact size and recover its original shape under NIR light irradiation. This work provides an approach to prepare novel shape-memory polymer composites with multifunctions including high strength, light-induced shape-recovery, antibacterial properties and printability.

Polyzwitterion coating based on PDMAEMA-block-PAAc for catheters with antibiofilm activities

Patients with long-term indwelling urinary catheters suffer from complications like infection and encrustation, which are dealt with by catheter replacement or antibiotic therapy inevitably resulting in the emergence of drug-resistant bacteria. Development of antibiofilm catheter coatings with biocompatible materials is considered a practical way to address these issues. Therefore, in the present work, a polyzwitterion coating based on Poly(2,2-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate)- block-Polyacrylic acid) (PDMAEMA-block-PAAc) was designed on the catheter surface. Herein, following the activation of the catheter silicone surface by UV/Ozone, it was functionalized with α-bromoisobutyryl bromide (BIBB), then 2,2-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate and acrylic acid monomer were polymerized in situ on the surface. Coated catheters were evaluated by attenuated total reflection-fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The hydrophilic PDMAEMA-block-PAAc-coated catheter was developed with high antibacterial and antibiofilm properties against Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa during 24 and 48 hours and also long-term biocompatibility with L929 fibroblast cells. In this study, a polyzwitterion polymer based on PDMAEMA-block-PAAc was coated on catheters to endow anti-fouling and antibacterial activity, in order to tailor the catheter surface to meet the specific requirements that support further clinical investigations.

PVA-Based Films with Strontium Titanate Nanoparticles Dedicated to Wound Dressing Application.

Bioactive materials may be applied in tissue regeneration, and an example of such materials are wound dressings, which are used to accelerate skin healing, especially after trauma. Here, we proposed a novel dressing enriched by a bioactive component. The aim of our study was to prepare and characterize poly(vinyl alcohol) films modified with strontium titanate nanoparticles. The physicochemical properties of films were studied, such as surface free energy and surface roughness, as well as the mechanical properties of materials. Moreover, different biological studies were carried out, like in vitro hemo- and cyto-compatibility, biocidal activity, and anti-biofilm formation. Also, the degradation of the materials' utilization possibilities and enzymatic activity in compost were checked. The decrease of surface free energy, increase of roughness, and improvement of mechanical strength were found after the addition of nanoparticles. All developed films were cyto-compatible, and did not induce a hemolytic effect on the human erythrocytes. The PVA films containing the highest concentration of STO (20%) reduced the proliferation of Eschericha coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus significantly. Also, all films were characterized by surface anti-biofilm activity, as they significantly lowered the bacterial biofilm abundance and its dehydrogenase activity. The films were degraded by the compost microorganism. However, PVA with the addition of 20%STO was more difficult to degrade. Based on our results, for wound dressing application, we suggest using bioactive films based on PVA + 20%STO, as they were characterized by high antibacterial properties, favorable physicochemical characteristics, and good biocompatibility with human cells.

Low cytotoxicity, antibacterial property, and curcumin delivery performance of toughness-enhanced electrospun composite membranes based on poly(lactic acid) and MAX phase (Ti3AlC2)

MXenes, synthesized from their precursor MAX phases, have been extensively researched as additives to enhance the drug delivery performance of polymer matrices, whereas there is a limited number of previous reports on the use of MAX phases themselves for such applications. The use of MAX phases can exclude the complicated synthesis procedure and lessen resultant production and environmental costs required to convert MAX phases to MXenes. Herein, electrospun membranes of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and a MAX phase (Ti3AlC2) have been fabricated for curcumin delivery. The composite membrane exhibits significantly higher toughness (8.82 MJ m−3) than the plasticized PLA membrane (0.63 MJ m−3) with low cytotoxicity, supporting proliferation of mouse fibroblast L929 cells. The curcumin-loaded composite membrane exhibits high water vapor transmission (∼7350 g m−2 day−1), porosity (∼85 %), water wettability, and antibacterial properties against E. coli and S. aureus. Seven-day curcumin release is enhanced from 45 % (PLA) to 67 % (composite) due to curcumin diffusion from the polymer fibers and MAX phase surface that contributes to overall increased curcumin adsorption and release sites. This work demonstrates the potential of the MAX phase to enhance both properties and curcumin delivery, promising for other eco-friendly systems for sustainable drug delivery applications.

A chitosan derivative/phytic acid polyelectrolyte complex endowing polyvinyl alcohol film with high barrier, flame-retardant, and antibacterial effects

Films with high barrier, flame-retardant, and antibacterial properties are beneficial in terms of food and logistics safety. Herein, a polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) of N-(2-hydroxyl)-propyl-3-trimethylammonium chitosan chloride (HTCC, chitosan derivative) and phytic acid (PA) was successfully prepared and then incorporated into a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) matrix to fabricate a composite film with satisfactory barrier, fire-retardant, and antibacterial properties. The influence of HTCC/PA (HTPA) on the structural, physical and functional properties of the PVA matrix was investigated. Compared with the PVA film, PVA-HTPA6 film exhibited 3.38 times of flexibility and 83.33 % and 80.64 % of water vapor permeability and oxygen permeability, respectively. Benefiting from HTPA, the PVA-HTPA6 film exhibited outstanding flame-retardant capacity, with a high LOI value (33.30 %) and immediate self-extinguishing behaviour. Furthermore, the HTPA endowed the films with excellent antibacterial properties. Compared with other films, the PVA-HTPA6 film effectively maintained the quality of pork during storage at 4 °C for 9 days. Our findings indicate that the films are promising for packaging and logistics safety with oil-containing foods.

Development and characterization of bio-based polyurethane flexible foams containing silver nanoparticles for efficient dermal healing application

Polyurethane foam containing different percentages of vegetable and petroleum polyol containing silver nanoparticles, which is used in medical dressings. This wound dressing has high mechanical and antibacterial properties due to the presence of antibacterial properties of silver.

Comparative Analysis of Green and Brown Morphotypes of <em>Kappaphycus alvarezii Doty</em> (Doty): Morphology, Total Phenol Content, Antioxidant Activity and Antimicrobial Activity

Kappaphycus alvarezii Doty (Doty), commonly known as elkhorn sea moss, is a popular seaweed cultivated globally. It is a well-known source of carrageenan, which is a thickening agent used in food and other industries. Even though different morphotypes of K. alvarezii are reported globally, it has been cultivated and marketed as a single genotype. However, such information is important, especially to produce high-value products such as nutraceuticals. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate differences in microscopic structure, antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, and total phenolic contents of green and brown morphotypes of K. alvarezii cultivated in Jaffna, Sri Lanka. Except for the colour, there was no significant difference in macroscopic parameters. There was no significant difference observed in cross-sections under the light microscope. Antimicrobial properties of ethanol, methanol and water extracts were evaluated by disc diffusion assay against, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Antioxidant properties and total phenolic contents were determined using 1, 1- diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay and Folin–Ciocalteau method, respectively. Interestingly, the antibacterial activity, antioxidant properties and total phenolic content of K. alvarezii depend on the morphotype. The green morphotype was rich in total phenolic compounds along with high antibacterial and antioxidant properties. Staphylococcus aureus was the most susceptible bacteria to antimicrobial agents of K. alvarezii and both ethanol and methanol extractions were efficient without significant differences between them in all the assays. The current data suggests better performance of the green morphotype of K. alvarezii as a natural source of antibacterial and antioxidant compounds.

Sprayable, thermosensitive hydrogels for promoting wound healing based on hollow, porous and pH-sensitive ZnO microspheres.

A solvothermal method and the subsequent heat treatment process were developed to fabricate hollow ZnO particles with hierarchical pores on a large scale. The as-obtained hollow, porous ZnO microspheres with tunable sizes, high specific surface areas, pH sensitivity, antibacterial properties, and high adsorption capacities showed significant advantages for drug delivery. Sprayable hydrogels containing hollow, porous ZnO microspheres and curcumin nanoparticles (CNPs) were prepared to accelerate wound healing. The water-dispersed CNPs promoted both the migration of fibroblasts and angiogenesis and an aqueous solution of Pluronic F127 (a temperature-sensitive phase-change hydrogel material) was shown to be an effective choice for medical dressings. The experimental data suggest that hollow, porous ZnO microspheres can be loaded with additional CNPs to achieve continuous long-term therapeutic effects.

Dual functionalized copper nanoparticles for thermoplastics with improved processing and mechanical properties and superior antibacterial performance.

The utilization of metal nanoparticles for antibacterial thermoplastic composites has the potential to enhance the safety of human and animal life by mitigating the spread and transmission of foodborne pathogenic bacteria. The dispersion, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of metal nanoparticles directly affect the application performance of the composites. This study focused on achieving amine-carboxyl co-modified copper nanoparticles (Cu-AC) with excellent antioxidant properties and monodispersity through in situ grafting of amine and carboxyl groups onto the surface of copper nanoparticles via ligand interaction. Polyacrylic acid's extended carbon chain structure was utilized to improve its dispersion and antioxidant properties, and its antibacterial properties were synergistically enhanced using secondary amines. It was found that Cu-AC possesses high antibacterial properties, with a minimum inhibition concentration of 0.156 mg mL-1. Antibacterial masterbatches and their composites (polypropylene/Cu) manufactured by melt blending of polypropylene and Cu-AC exhibited excellent antibacterial rates of up to 90% and 99% at 300 ppm and 700 ppm Cu-AC, respectively. Additionally, Cu-AC bolstered the thermal degradation, processing and mechanical properties of polypropylene. The successful implementation of this product substantiates the potential applications of polypropylene/Cu composite materials across diverse industries.

Bioinspired multiscale cellulose/lignin-silver composite films with robust mechanical, antioxidant and antibacterial properties for ultraviolet shielding

Constructing a high-performance ultraviolet shielding film is an effective way for addressing the growing problem of ultraviolet radiation. However, it is still a great challenge to achieve a combination of multifunctional, excellent mechanical properties and low cost. Here, inspired by the multiscale structure of biomaterials and features of lignin, a multifunctional composite film (CNF/CMF/Lig-Ag) is constructed via a facile vacuum-filtration method by introducing micron-sized cellulose fibers (CMF) and lignin-silver nanoparticles (Lig-Ag NPs) into the cellulose nanofibers (CNF) film network. In this composite film, the microfibers interweave with nanofibers to form a multiscale three-dimensional network, which ensures satisfactory mechanical properties of the composite film. Meanwhile, the Lig-Ag NPs are employed as a multifunctional filler to enhance the composite film's antioxidant, antibacterial and ultraviolet shielding abilities. As a result, the prepared CNF/CMF/Lig-Ag composite film demonstrates excellent mechanical properties (with tensile strength of 133.8 MPa and fracture strain of 7.4 %), good biocompatibility, high thermal stability, potent antioxidant and antibacterial properties. More importantly, such composite film achieves a high ultraviolet shielding rate of 98.2 % for ultraviolet radiation A (UVA) and 99.4 % for ultraviolet radiation B (UVB), respectively. Therefore, the prepared CNF/CMF/Lig-Ag composite film shows great potential in application of ultraviolet protection.

Biomimetic Gradient Hydrogels with High Toughness and Antibacterial Properties.

Traditional hydrogels, as wound dressings, usually exhibit poor mechanical strength and slow drug release performance in clinical biomedical applications. Although various strategies have been investigated to address the above issues, it remains a challenge to develop a simple method for preparing hydrogels with both toughness and controlled drug release performance. In this study, a tannic acid-reinforced poly (sulfobetaine methacrylate) (TAPS) hydrogel was fabricated via free radical polymerization, and the TAPS hydrogel was subjected to a simple electrophoresis process to obtain the hydrogels with a gradient distribution of copper ions. These gradient hydrogels showed tunable mechanical properties by changing the electrophoresis time. When the electrophoresis time reached 15 min, the hydrogel had a tensile strength of 368.14 kPa, a tensile modulus of 16.17 kPa, and a compressive strength of 42.77 MPa. It could be loaded at 50% compressive strain and then unloaded for up to 70 cycles and maintained a constant compressive stress of 1.50 MPa. The controlled release of copper from different sides of the gradient hydrogels was observed. After 6 h of incubation, the hydrogel exhibited a strong bactericidal effect on Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and Gram-negative Escherichia coli, with low toxicity to NIH/3T3 fibroblasts. The high toughness, controlled release of copper, and enhanced antimicrobial properties of the gradient hydrogels make them excellent candidates for wound dressings in biomedical applications.

Injectable, rapid self-healing, antioxidant and antibacterial nanocellulose-tannin hydrogels formed via metal-ligand coordination for drug delivery and wound dressing

Nanocellulose-based hydrogels have attracted increasingly attention due to their biocompatibility, biodegradability, and hydrophilic properties. In this work, we proposed a simple route to fabricate composite hydrogels using TEMPO oxidized cellulose nanofibrils (TOCNF) and tannin through metal-ligand coordination. Calcium ions were utilized to rapidly cross-link the carboxyl groups on TOCNF and the tannins' catechol moieties via metal-ligand bonding, resulting in the formation of TOCNF-Ca2+-T composite hydrogels. The incorporation of tannins endowed the hydrogel with high antioxidant and antibacterial properties. The rheological analysis revealed that the addition of tannin led to an improved gel strength of the composite hydrogel. The hydrogel was injectable and could autonomously self-healed in 1 min without any trigger. Tetracycline hydrochloride (TH) was successfully loaded into the composite hydrogels, achieving a maximum encapsulation rate of 97.32%. TOCNF-Ca2+-40%T demonstrated a cumulative drug release of 36% at pH 1.3 and 86% at pH 7.4, indicating its pH-responsive nature. These hydrogels, derived from plant sources, exhibited high antibacterial and antioxidant properties, as well as biocompatibility, rapid self-healing, and injectability, which open up new possibilities for applications in wound dressing and drug delivery.

Novel bioactive sponge mats composed of oxidized bacterial cellulose and chitosan-gum Arabic microcapsules loaded with cinnamon essential oil for enhancing meat preservation

Meat is prone to microbial contamination during storage, resulting in a shortened shelf life. To address this issue, absorbent preservation mats have been suggested and proven effective in slowing down the spoilage of meat. To this end, this study developed a novel bioactive sponge mat composed of oxidized bacterial cellulose (OBC) and microcapsules loaded with cinnamon essential oil (CGCM) obtained by complex coacervation of chitosan and gum Arabic. The surface charge of such microcapsules was regulated through the use of chitosan obtained from different deacetylation degrees. The physicochemical properties, antioxidant properties, and antibacterial properties of the OBC-CGCM sponge mats were investigated and their effect on meat preservation was assessed. The results concurred that the electrostatic interaction and hydrogen bonding between the CGCM and OBC sponge mat matrix led to improved thermal stability, water absorption, and tensile strength of the sponge mat. Furthermore, it demonstrated high antioxidant (reaching up to 90%) and antibacterial properties, particularly in the gas phase (up to 65%). The application of the prepared sponge mat to the preservation of meat was able to maintain the freshness and extend the shelf life of meat from 4 days to around 10 days under 4 °C, which is significantly better than that shown by commercially available preservation mats. In conclusion, the OBC-CGCM sponge mats are highly promising for meat preservation, thereby offering an attractive universal approach to constructing active biomass packaging materials.