Antrodia cinnamomea Residual Biomass-Based Hydrogel as a Novel UV-Protective and Antimicrobial Wound-Healing Dressing for Biomedical Use

Abstract

Antrodia cinnamomea is widely known for its bioactive properties, particularly in anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial areas. Despite the full use of the bioactive compounds from its fruiting body, high-value residues remain largely underexploited. This study presents a novel one-pot gel formation method, utilizing cinnamomea cellulose-riched residues to create hydrogels as an effective wound-healing dressing. The hydrogels derived from these residues show desirable properties, including non-drying characteristics, antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 1768, and cytocompatibility. Residual bioactive compounds, such as Antcin-K, Dehydroeburicoic acid, and (25S,R)-Antcin H, were identified in the residues, adding to the hydrogel’s efficacy. A UVB irradiation model was employed to evaluate the protective effects of the residues on UVB-damaged HaCaT skin cell lines, with an IC50 of 0.045 mg/mL. The results indicated that A. cinnamomea residue extracts reduced the upregulation of MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-3, MMP-7, and MMP-9 proteins caused by UVB exposure, suggesting high UV-protective activity. Additionally, antibacterial tests on Staphylococcus aureus strains, including Staphylococcus ATTC 1768, showed promising results, with inhibition zones ranging from 10.64 to 12.11 mm. In summary, Antrodia cinnamomea residue hydrogels combine UV protection with antimicrobial activity, making them a promising candidate for medical applications, particularly as a wound-healing dressing.