Preparation, characterization, and biological properties of carboxymethyl cellulose hydrogels with Platanus orientalis L. extract

Abstract

The current generation of wound dressings has several disadvantages, including a lack of antibacterial efficacy, inadequate oxygen and water vapor permeability, and suboptimal mechanical properties. This study explores the synthesis and evaluation of carboxymethyl cellulose-based hydrogels, specifically CMCF and CMCF-PO, which incorporate Platanus orientalis L. extract. Characterization through scanning electron microscopy showed that both hydrogels possessed porous surfaces with distinct textures. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy analyses confirmed successful crosslinking via ester bond formation, indicated by a shift and narrowing of the O–H stretching peak. The swelling experiments highlighted that CMCF-PO exhibited significantly higher water absorption than CMCF. Antibacterial assessments demonstrated that CMCF-PO displayed superior antibacterial activity against various bacterial strains, particularly Pseudomonas aeruginosa, with the lowest minimum inhibitory concentration values recorded, indicating its effectiveness in bacterial inhibition. In addition, both hydrogels significantly reduced biofilm formation, underscoring their potential in combating biofilm-related infections. In vitro biocompatibility tests revealed high cell viability, with CMCF-PO achieving around 91% viability after 48 h, confirming its low cytotoxicity. These findings suggest that CMCF-PO enhances mechanical and antibacterial properties and exhibits excellent biocompatibility.