Hydrogels based on lignin extracted from cashew apple bagasse and its application in antimicrobial wound dressings.

Hydrogels are versatile materials with a three-dimensional network structure that can retain water and release bioactive compounds. They have found applications in various fields, including agriculture, biomaterial synthesis, and pharmaceuticals. Incorporating natural antimicrobial compounds into hydrogels is a promising approach to developing non-toxic biomedical materials, particularly for wound healing dressings. It was evaluated the extraction and use of cashew apple bagasse lignin (CAB-Lig) due to its healing, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties for producing a hydrogel-based bandage. The extraction process involved acid and alkali treatments followed by precipitation. The antimicrobial potential of CAB-Lig was evaluated at different concentrations for formulating hydrogels. Hydrogels containing 0.1 % and 3 % lignin showed high swelling and liquid retention abilities. The 3 % lignin hydrogel exhibited effectiveness against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Incorporating CAB-Lig into the hydrogel structure improved its mechanical properties, making it more suitable for application as a bandage. Moreover, the extracted lignin showed low toxicity, indicating its safe use. A bandage was formulated by combining the CAB-Lig-based hydrogel with polyester, which possessed antimicrobial properties and demonstrated biocompatibility (L929 and HaCat cells). The results confirmed the potential of CAB-Lig for synthesizing hydrogels and dressings with antimicrobial properties, offering a sustainable solution for utilizing lignocellulosic biomass.

Hyaluronic acid depolymerization by ascorbate-redox effects on solid state cultivation of Streptococcus zooepidemicus in cashew apple fruit bagasse.

The cashew fruit (Anacardium occidentale L.) has been used as a promising agricultural resource for the production of low-molecular weight (M(W)) hyaluronic acid (HA) (10(4)-10(5) Da). The cashew juice is a rich source of vitamin C containing, 1.2-2.0 g L(-1). This work explores the effects of the initial concentration of the ascorbate on the solid fermentation of the juice-moisturized bagasse from the cashew apple fruit. The results show that the M(W) reduction of HA is proportional to the initial ascorbate concentration. The presence of ascorbate did not influence the Streptococcus zooepidemicus metabolism. However, the HA productivity was increased from 0.18 to 0.28 mg g(-1) h(-1) when the ascorbate concentration ranged from 1.7 to 10 mg mL(-1). These findings contribute to the controlled production of HA in a low M(W) range, which is important in cell signalization, angiogenesis and nanoparticles production.