Novel antioxidant materials based on polysaccharides containing resveratrol and syringic acid

Polysaccharides offer exceptional advantages for biomedical applications due to their natural biocompatibility, biodegradability, and lack of immune response. By incorporating active ingredients, researchers can tailor these materials’ properties for specific uses. This study focused on developing enhanced biodegradable films using chitosan and konjac glucomannan as base materials, enriched with two natural antioxidants: resveratrol and syringic acid. Films containing these antioxidants at two different concentrations (10% and 20% were obtained and thoroughly characterized using multiple analytical techniques. Infrared spectroscopy confirmed the successful incorporation of the active compounds, while scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy revealed homogeneous surfaces with slightly increased roughness due to the additives. The antioxidant-enriched films demonstrated significant improvements in several properties. Most importantly, they showed strong antioxidant activity, with resveratrol and syringic acid working synergistically to enhance radical scavenging capabilities. The 20% concentration films exhibited markedly improved wettability, while mechanical properties were enhanced compared to the pure polymer blend. Although moisture vapor transmission decreased with the additives, this actually represents a beneficial barrier property for many applications. The films’ swelling behavior proved particularly interesting, showing high swelling capacity at physiological pH (7.4) but significantly lower swelling at acidic pH (5.5). This pH-responsive behavior, combined with enhanced antioxidant properties, makes these materials especially promising for medical applications such as wound dressings. The obtained antioxidant-enhanced biopolymer films hold considerable potential in multiple industries, including medical devices, cosmetics, food products, and packaging applications. With further biological testing, these materials could advance wound care treatments by providing protective barrier functions and therapeutic antioxidant benefits.

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Opracowanie rekordu ze środków MNiSW, umowa nr POPUL/SP/0154/2024/02 w ramach programu "Społeczna odpowiedzialność nauki II" - moduł: Popularyzacja nauki i promocja sportu (2025).