Bacterial cellulose (BC) is a natural nanofiber with numerous desirable properties, including porosity, flexibility, high water capacity, biocompatibility, and high crystallinity. BC is appealing to researchers in materials science and engineering due to its potential applications in healthcare, biosensing, food, and bioremediation. However, high production costs and inconsistencies in strain production have hindered large-scale production and commercial applications. BC production optimization is required to boost industrial-scale productivity while reducing production time and expenses. This review covers BC biosynthesis and assembly, nutrient requirements, and structure and properties. Strategies for improved BC production, either through conventional or statistical optimization, have been discussed. Genetic approaches to modify BC-producing strains to increase BC yield have been explored. Various applications of BC in medical and environmental sectors have been compiled here for better understanding. The authors have investigated BC's significance in day-to-day life and how they can be useful to society.

Despite significant advances in the development of biocompatible platforms, such as scaffolds, films, and hydrogels, a challenge remains in formulating films with the right balance of mechanical properties and bioactivity. Herein, we developed biocompatible composite films based on polycaprolactone (PCL), MXene, and gelatin that can be utilized for biomedical applications. PCL and gelatin (from bovine, fish, and porcine skin) were used to design the biocompatible matrix, while MXenes were used as a filler to enhance the mechanical and biological properties of the films. We investigated the influence of these three types of gelatin on the chemical structure, morphology, physicochemical properties, cytotoxicity, biocompatibility, and cell growth. All the films exhibited high tensile strength, ranging from 5 to 10 MPa. The incorporation of a relatively small content of MXene (0.5 wt%) altered the tensile properties of the films with the lower gelatin contents (12-15 wt%). SAXS analysis revealed that the nanometer-scale lamellar stack structures characteristic of PCL, consisting of alternating crystalline and amorphous lamellae, were present in all samples and exhibited a morphology identical to that of neat PCL. In contrast, WAXS showed that the relative intensities of individual PCL reflections varied with sample composition, indicating a preferential orientation of PCL crystallites-and consequently of the lamellar stacks-particularly, in MXene-containing samples. The SEM/SE micrographs displayed a coarse morphology of gelatin nanoparticles in the PCL matrix, and the structure coarseness decreased in the following order: PCL/MX/fish gelatin > PCL/MX/bovine gelatin > PCL/MX/porcine gelatin. Invitro, cell culture experiments with SAOS-2 cells revealed that cell confluence was relatively high on samples with the 14.5 wt% porcine gelatin.

ABSTRACTThis study reports the fabrication and comprehensive characterization of multicomponent silver‐doped zinc oxide (Ag/ZnO)–poly(vinyl alcohol)/alginate(PVA/Alg) biocomposite hydrogels enriched with clove oil (CO), prepared via a scalable and solvent‐free freeze–thaw (F–T) process. The F–T treatment generated physically cross‐linked hydrogel networks with preserved structural integrity and favorable mechanical performance. Morphological analysis revealed a homogeneous and interconnected porous architecture at low CO contents, while contact‐angle measurements confirmed hydrophilic surfaces with composition‐dependent wettability. X‐ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy verified the successful incorporation of Ag/ZnO and CO into the PVA/Alg matrix without disrupting the overall polymer network. Barrier performance was strongly governed by CO content. Increasing CO loading reduced water vapor transmission through the formation of hydrophobic domains, while oxygen permeability reached a maximum at 1 wt.% CO, highlighting tunable mass transport behavior. The hydrogels exhibited rapid swelling, sustained hydration stability for up to 72 h, and a composition‐dependent CO release behavior. Collectively, these findings elucidate clear structure–processing–property relationships in Ag/ZnO‐incorporated PVA/Alg hydrogels containing CO and demonstrate their promise as multifunctional materials for further investigation in wound dressing applications.

The phyto-fabrication of nanoparticles offers an eco-friendly route to novel functional materials. This study demonstrates the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using Aloe vera (L.) Burm.f. extract and their incorporation into an Eri silk fibroin (ESF) film to create a novel antimicrobial biomaterial. The AgNPs and the resulting composite films were characterized via UV-Vis, FTIR, and SEM-EDX analyses. Incorporating the green-synthesized AgNPs significantly enhanced the film's physical properties, resulting in high porosity (up to 88.46%) and an optimal water vapor transmission rate (2503.19 g/m2/day). The final ESF-AVAg composite film exhibited potent, broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity. Specifically, the Zone of Inhibition (ZOI) area for the optimal concentration (AVAg6) was 13.00 mm2 against Escherichia coli, 13.69 mm2 against Staphylococcus aureus, and 17.55 mm2 against Candida albicans, significantly outperforming the controls. This work successfully bridges sustainable green synthesis with biomaterial engineering, demonstrating that Aloe vera-derived AgNPs can be effectively integrated into a silk fibroin matrix to produce a high-performance antimicrobial film.

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) represent promising scaffolds for therapeutic development, but many natural sequences show limited potency or poor selectivity. Among them, Cn-AMP1, a coconut-derived peptide, exhibits excellent biocompatibility but weak antibacterial and anticancer activities owing to low hydrophobicity and minimal cationic charge. Here, we rationally designed a series of Cn-AMP1 derivatives with systematic modulation of charge and hydrophobicity to probe structure-activity relationships. Among them, CAP10, displayed 2-4-fold stronger antibacterial potency than earlier analogs while maintaining hemolysis below 10%. CAP10 also achieved measurable cytotoxicity toward cancer cells, representing a clear improvement over the other Cn-AMP1 derivatives. Molecular dynamics simulations revealed that CAP10 penetrates deeply into bacterial and cancer membranes, inducing local bilayer thinning and density depletion, whereas Cn-AMP1 remained surface-bound with limited disruption. These results establish that simultaneous optimization of hydrophobicity and charge enhances membrane-active selectivity and dual functionality. Our findings provide structural principles for the rational design of next-generation AMPs with improved efficacy and safety profiles.

Polyacrylamide (PAAm) was made from acrylamide (AAm), polycarbondisulfide (PCS2) from carbon disulfide (CS2), and their copolymer P(AAm/CS2) at a fixed equal ratio using gamma irradiation. The polymers were characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), CHNS/O elemental microanalysis, x-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The results demonstrated the effective synthesis of PAAm, PCS2, and P(AAm/CS2), with the copolymer having an average molecular weight of 187,673 Da. The produced polymers were tested for their cytotoxic and pro-apoptotic effects on human pancreatic carcinoma (PANC-1) cells in light of the urgent need for efficient treatments against this aggressive cancer with a poor prognosis. With half-maximal inhibitory concentrations (IC50) of > 500 μg/mL for PAAm, 156 μg/mL for PCS2, and 99.2 μg/mL for P(AAm/CS2), the copolymer demonstrated superior cytotoxic potential. Flow cytometric analysis provided additional support for these findings. Treatment with 125 μg/mL of PAAm resulted in 4.8% early and 13.3% late apoptosis, whereas PCS2 at the same concentration caused 30.8% early and 18.5% late apoptosis. Notably, 125 μg/mL of P(AAm/CS2) caused a significant increase in apoptosis, resulting in 39.3% of early apoptotic cell populations and 28.6% of late apoptotic cell populations. According to gene expression analysis, P53, Caspase-3, Caspase-7, and Bax genes were upregulated and Bcl-2 was downregulated after treatment with 125 μg/mL of PCS2 or P(AAm/CS2). However, PAAm had no significant impact on these apoptotic markers. In comparison to untreated PANC-1 cells, P(AAm/CS2) showed the strongest response, resulting in significant (p ≤ 0.05) increases in P53 (4.4-fold), Caspase-3 (2.9-fold), Caspase-7 (8.3-fold), and Bax (5.5-fold) expression levels, while Bcl-2 expression was significantly reduced (0.09-fold). In conclusion, the produced copolymer P(AAm/CS2) exhibits a strong anticancer effect on pancreatic carcinoma cells by inducing apoptosis, thereby supporting its potential as a promising polymer-based therapeutic agent.

With the increase in human population and rising food demand, the need for an efficient and sustainable food packaging solution has intensified. This review discusses the edible and biodegradable packaging systems, emphasizing their potential as an environmentally safe and sustainable alternative to synthetic packaging. It also highlights various biopolymers, fabrication methods, and bioactive agents such as antimicrobials, antioxidants, and nanoparticles to improve the biopolymer's functionality, food preservation, and shelf-life extension. While edible and biodegradable packaging shows promising potential as sustainable packaging, further research is essential to optimize their formulations, cost-effectiveness, and improve scalability. The long-term safety of these packaging materials on human health, their industrial applicability, and interaction with food products still require thorough investigations.

ABSTRACTPeriodontitis is a bacterial infectious disease. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) offers high selectivity, drug‐resistance‐free treatment, and immune regulation. The second‐generation porphyrin photosensitizer Ce6 excels in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. However, periodontitis pathogens' negative charge limits Ce6's interaction with them. This study prepared a modified cationic cyclodextrin (sPAM) and encapsulated Ce6 in an aqueous medium to create a nano‐photodynamic system (Ce6@sPAM), which was characterized. In vitro evaluations assessed Ce6@sPAM's photodynamic performance, safety, antibacterial properties, and effects on immunoregulation. TEM images revealed Ce6@sPAM's irregular spherical shape, with a size of 236 nm by DLS and a Zeta potential of +16.4 mV. Ce6@sPAM exhibits a notably brief light half‐life of merely 13 min, facilitating its swift in vivo clearance. SOSG and DCFH‐DA fluorescence experiments showed Ce6@sPAM had stronger ROS generation (p < 0.05) and better bacterial penetration (p > 0.05) than Ce6. Co‐incubation with Ce6@sPAM reversed bacterial surface potential from negative to positive. Bio‐safety tests confirmed its excellent biocompatibility. In antibacterial tests, sPAM showed antibacterial properties, and Ce6@sPAM had a stronger effect than Ce6 under light (p < 0.001). Ce6@sPAM also exhibited high macrophage killing rates (> 90%) without specificity (p > 0.05) and can induce M1 macrophages to M2 polarization. Ce6‐loaded modified cyclodextrin nanoparticles hold great promise for synergistic PDT in periodontitis treatment, especially in early stages for optimal immunomodulation.

ABSTRACTIn this study, the effect of microwave (MW) treatment on obtaining barley microfibers and their effect on the chemical, structural, and viscoelastic properties of films based on starch (S) and polyvinyl alcohol (P) was inspected. SEM, FTIR, and TGA analysis revealed that MW treatment effectively achieves the defibrillation and the destabilization of hydrogen bonds of the hemicellulose and lignin molecules, resulting in the obtention of barley microfibers (BM). XPS analysis allowed identification of the oxidation and crosslinking mechanism of S, P, and S/P films containing BM during the extrusion process. PBM and SPBM films showed an increase in CC proportions linked to the crosslinking phenomena and promoted stronger OCO interactions, which increased the storage modulus from 195.5 to 380.8 MPa and from 78.0 to 134 MPa, respectively. Conversely, SBM showed lower interactions CC and high COH bonds that reduced the component adhesion. Thus, the matrix type and extrusion process determined the chemical interaction with BM, resulting in films with different rigidity that can be useful in different sustainable packaging solutions.