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Hydrogels are three-dimensional polymeric matrices capable of absorbing significant amounts of water or biological fluids, making them promising candidates for biomedical applications such as drug delivery and wound healing. In this study, novel hydrogels were synthesized using a photopolymerization method and modified with cisplatin-loaded protein carriers, as well as natural extracts of nettle ( Urtica dioica ) and chamomile ( Matricaria chamomilla L.). The basic components of the hydrogel were polyvinylpyrrolidone and polyvinyl alcohol, while polyethylene glycol diacrylate was used as a crosslinking agent and 2-methyl-2-hydroxypropiophenone as a photoinitiator. The hydrogels demonstrated high swelling capacities, with values up to 4.5 g/g in distilled water, and lower absorption in Ringer's solution and simulated body fluid (SBF), influenced by ionic interactions. Wettability measurements indicated water contact angles between 51° and 59°, suggesting balanced hydrophilic properties conducive to biomedical applications. Surface roughness analyses revealed that roughness values decreased after incubation, with Ra values ranging from 6.73 µm before incubation to 5.94 µm after incubation for samples with the highest protein content. Incubation studies confirmed the stability of the hydrogel matrix, with no significant structural degradation observed over 20 days. However, hydrogels containing 2.0 mL of protein suspension exhibited structural damage and were excluded from further testing. The synthesized hydrogels show potential for application as carriers in localized drug delivery systems, offering a platform for future development in areas such as targeted therapy for skin cancer or other localized treatments.

This study evaluated the impact of silver particles, suspended in Arnica montana flower extract, on the physicochemical characteristics and release dynamics of antioxidant compounds in PVP (polyvinylpyrrolidone)-based hydrogel systems. The hydrogels were synthesized via photopolymerization with fixed amounts of crosslinker (PEGDA) and photoinitiator, while the concentration of the silver-infused extract was systematically varied. Key properties, including the density, porosity, surface roughness, swelling capacity, and water vapor transmission rate (WVTR), were quantitatively analyzed. The results demonstrated that increasing the silver content reduced the hydrogel density from 0.6669 g/cm 3 to 0.2963 g/cm 3 and increased the porosity from 4% to 11.04%. The surface roughness parameters (Ra) rose from 8.42 µm to 16.33 µm, while the WVTR increased significantly from 65.169 g/m 2 ·h to 93.772 g/m 2 ·h. These structural changes directly influenced the release kinetics of antioxidant compounds, with kinetic modeling revealing silver-dependent variations in the evaluated release mechanisms. This innovative approach of integrating silver particles and plant-derived antioxidants into hydrogels highlights a novel pathway for tailoring material properties. The observed enhanced porosity and moisture regulation underscore the hydrogels' potential for biomedical applications, particularly in wound care, where controlled moisture and antioxidant delivery are critical. These findings provide new insights into how silver particles modulate hydrogel structures and functionalities.

In recent years, the utilization of natural components has become crucial across various industries, including medicine. Particularly in biomedical contexts, hydrogel materials are of significant importance. Therefore, the objective of this research was to develop and analyze hydrogel materials infused with vitamin C. A key focus of this study was to conduct multiple syntheses with varying levels of vitamin C to explore the feasibility of creating materials with adjustable properties. The produced hydrogels underwent comprehensive physicochemical evaluation. The findings of this examination verified the correlation between the vitamin C content and the specific characteristics of the hydrogels. It was determined from these results that the samples displayed both sorptive and antioxidative capabilities, enabling their potential application in wound dressings or other biomedical uses. A notable benefit of these hydrogels is their adaptability, allowing for modifications to achieve desired attributes tailored to particular applications.

The research subject of this paper are natural polymer-based hydrogels modified with albumin particles. The proteins were obtained via the salt-induced precipitation method, and next characterized using dynamic light scattering (DLS), UV-Vis spectroscopy and FT-IR spectroscopy. The most favorable composition showing monodispersity and particles with a size lower than 40 nm was selected for modification of hydrogels. Such systems were obtained via the photopolymerization performed under the influence of UV radiation using diacrylate poly(ethylene glycol) as a crosslinking agent and 2-hydroxy-2-methylpropiophenone as a photoinitiator. Next, the hydrogels' swelling ability, mechanical properties, wettability and surface morphology were characterized. Moreover, FT-IR spectroscopy, incubation studies in simulated physiological liquids, pro-inflammatory activity analysis and MTT reduction assay with L929 murine fibroblasts were performed. The release profiles of proteins from hydrogels were also verified. Materials modified with proteins showed higher swelling ability, increased flexibility even by 50% and increased surface hydrophilicity. Hydrogels' contact angles were within the range 62-69° while the tensile strength of albumin-containing hydrogels was approx. 0.11 MPa. Furthermore, the possibility of the effective release of protein particles from hydrogels in acidic environment (approximately 70%) was determined. Incubation studies showed hydrogels' stability and lack of their degradation in tested media. The viability of fibroblasts was 89.54% for unmodified hydrogel, and approx. 92.73% for albumin-modified hydrogel, and such an increase indicated the positive impact of the albumin on murine fibroblast proliferation.

Hydrogels belong to the group of polymers with a three-dimensional crosslinked structure, and their crosslinking density strongly affects their physicochemical properties. Here, we verified the impact of both the average molecular weight of crosslinking agents used during the photopolymerization of hydrogels and that of their content on selected properties of these materials. First, PVP-based hydrogels modified with Aloe vera juice and L-ascorbic acid were prepared using UV radiation. Next, their surface morphology was characterized via optical scanning electron microscopy, whereas their chemical structure was investigated by FT-IR spectroscopy. Moreover, we verified the tendency of the hydrogels to degrade in selected physiological liquids, as well as their tensile strength, percentage of elongation, and swelling capability. We found that the more crosslinking agent in the hydrogel matrix, the higher its tensile strength and the less elongation. The hydrogels showed the highest stability during incubation in SBF and 2% hemoglobin solution. A sharp decrease in the pH of distilled water observed during the incubation of the hydrogels was probably due to the release of Aloe vera juice from the hydrogel matrices. This was additionally confirmed by the decrease in the intensity of the absorption band derived from the polysaccharides included in this additive and by the decrease in the swelling ratio after 48 h. Importantly, all hydrogels demonstrated swelling properties, and it was proven that the higher content of the crosslinking agent in hydrogels, the lower their swelling ability.