New lignin-based hydrogel breakthrough for wound healing and controlled drug release
Enhanced strength and bioactivity make lignin hydrogels a promising tool for medical applications
2024-11-13
(Press-News.org)
As the demand for advanced wound healing and drug delivery materials grows, scientists are turning to sustainable, bioactive materials for innovative solutions. A recent study by Bowei Wang et al., published in the Journal of Bioresources and Bioproducts, presents a breakthrough in lignin-based hydrogels designed to combine mechanical strength with bioactivity. This research reveals a controlled-release polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and chitosan (CS) hydrogel, augmented with sulfonated lignin, which could revolutionize the treatment of complex wounds and enable sustained drug release.
Lignin, a renewable byproduct in the paper and biorefinery industries, has gained attention for its inherent antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, which are essential for promoting wound healing. However, high concentrations of lignin in direct applications often lead to biotoxicity. Addressing this limitation, the team developed a hydrogel network with non-covalent interactions (including van der Waals forces, hydrogen, and electrostatic interactions) to incorporate lignin safely and effectively. This structure ensures the slow and controlled release of lignin in response to environmental pH changes, specifically targeting wound environments with fluctuating pH levels due to bacterial infections.
The mechanical performance of this hydrogel was notably enhanced. Compared to traditional PVA-CS hydrogels, the lignin-infused hydrogel exhibited a tensile strength of approximately 36 kPa and a compressive strength of 900 kPa. These values mark a substantial improvement, positioning the hydrogel as a suitable candidate for load-bearing wound dressings. The non-covalent interactions within the hydrogel network enabled energy dissipation upon mechanical stress, further increasing its durability and potential applications.
Beyond mechanical properties, the hydrogel demonstrated significant biological compatibility. In vitro tests showed high cell viability, with the hydrogel actively promoting cell proliferation without observable toxicity. Reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are elevated in inflamed wound environments, were effectively scavenged by the lignin in the hydrogel. This antioxidant activity reduces oxidative damage and supports faster tissue regeneration. The hydrogel also showed antimicrobial efficacy against Staphylococcus aureus, a common pathogen in wound infections, reinforcing its potential in infection control.
The study’s findings indicate that lignin-based hydrogels can serve as a cost-effective, biocompatible, and mechanically resilient solution for wound healing applications. Furthermore, the controlled and pH-responsive release properties make this hydrogel an ideal candidate for sustained drug delivery, reducing the need for frequent medication application and minimizing side effects associated with high drug concentrations.
This innovative approach integrates lignin’s molecular structure with advanced hydrogel technology, paving the way for more sustainable, efficient, and accessible biomedical materials in future healthcare applications.
END
[Attachments] See images for this press release:
ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:
2024-11-13
With an increasing focus on environmental sustainability, researchers are seeking ways to improve the biodegradability and mechanical properties of bioplastics, particularly polylactic acid (PLA). A recent study by June-Ho Choi and colleagues, published in the Journal of Bioresources and Bioproducts, presents a promising approach that enhances the compatibility and decomposition of PLA when combined with biomass through a process called torrefaction. This innovation offers practical improvements for sustainable material applications, positioning PLA as a viable, eco-friendly alternative in various industries.
PLA, ...
2024-11-13
Scientists detect a heightened “threat vigilance” reaction in adolescents after a few hours of isolation, which socialising online doesn’t appear to ameliorate.
They say the findings might shed light on the link between loneliness and mental health conditions such as anxiety disorders, which are on the rise in young people.
Experiment is the first to find an increased threat response triggered by isolation in humans (previous studies have found the effect in animals such as mice).
People ...
2024-11-13
Migratory birds are known for their ability to traverse thousands of kilometres to reach their breeding or wintering grounds. Research by Bangor University found that these birds, in this case, Eurasian reed warblers (Acrocephalus scirpaceus) are using only the Earth's magnetic inclination and declination to determine their position and direction. This challenges the long-held belief that all components of the Earth's magnetic field, especially total intensity, are essential for accurate navigation.
Scientists have long believed that these birds use a 'map-and-compass' system: they first ...
2024-11-13
The ketogenic “keto” diet and intermittent fasting have surged in popularity, embraced by everyone from weekend warriors to endurance athletes. These trends promise to harness the power of ketosis — a metabolic state where the body burns fat for energy instead of carbohydrates. Advocates tout its benefits, from weight loss to neuroprotection.
A collaborative research team is now tackling the unanswered questions surrounding ketosis.
Rather than adding to the growing, and often confusing, literature on the effects of ketogenic ...
2024-11-13
Niigata, Japan – Dr. Watanabe and his teams from Niigata University have revealed that PET/CT image analysis using artificial intelligence (AI) can predict the occurrence of interstitial lung disease, known as a serious side effect of immunotherapy in lung cancer.
Immunotherapy has dramatically improved the treatment outcomes of primary lung cancer; however, it sometimes causes a serious side effect called interstitial lung disease. Interstitial lung disease is characterized by scarring (fibrosis) of the ...
2024-11-13
There is a large window-lined laboratory in the back of one of Clemson University’s most storied buildings, Newman Hall, filled with machines that look like they were extracted straight from Dr. Jekyll’s lab. On one wall a contraption made of pullies and wires attached to the ceiling waits to drop objects and measure the impact; in the middle of the room, a giant metal base shakes a pallet of boxes in perpetuity; on the other side of the room sits what looks like a gigantic nut cracker big enough to squish a small car – but the most Medieval-looking area is the bay on the east side of the room full of machines designed to smack heads.
This is the Clemson Headgear ...
2024-11-13
Specific combinations of long term conditions have a major role in the additional pressures the NHS faces every winter, because they are associated with significantly higher risks of hospital admissions and death, finds research published in the open access journal BMJ Medicine.
The risk of hospital admission was 11 times higher among those with the quartet of cancer, kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, and type 2 diabetes than it was among those without any of these long term conditions, the findings show.
And ...
2024-11-13
Men often struggle with the transition to fatherhood amid a lack of information and emotional support targeted to their needs, suggests a review of the available qualitative evidence, published in the open access journal BMJ Open.
Greater focus is needed in clinical practice, antenatal services, and research on men’s unique experiences of the perinatal period, which encompasses pregnancy and the first 12 months after the birth, say the researchers.
Pregnancy and childbirth can be an anxious time for new parents, and the transition to fatherhood—defined ...
2024-11-13
The provision of just 1% more green space in the most deprived urban neighbourhoods in 3 out of the 4 UK nations may be linked to around 40% fewer preventable deaths in these areas, finds research published online in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health.
Green space is unequally distributed in England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, with the lowest amounts in the most deprived areas, the findings show, prompting the researchers to suggest that green space investment might be an important public health strategy for tackling health inequalities.
Spending time ...
2024-11-13
Addition of the immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab to standard of care for patients with advanced soft tissue sarcoma of the limb significantly improved disease-free survival, according to the results of the SU2C-SARC032 clinical trial led by researchers from the University of Pittsburgh, UPMC, Duke University and Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network.
The findings, published today in The Lancet, establish pembrolizumab as a new option for patients with this disease.
“Soft tissue sarcoma is a rare and complex disease with over 50 different subtypes, which makes it hard to study in large clinical trials,” said lead author ...
LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:
[Press-News.org] New lignin-based hydrogel breakthrough for wound healing and controlled drug release
Enhanced strength and bioactivity make lignin hydrogels a promising tool for medical applications
