Agro-industrial residues such as prickly pear peel represent an underutilized source of bioactive compounds. However, comparative evidence on green extraction versus biotransformation strategies remains limited. This study evaluated solid-state fermentation (SSF), ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), and microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) for tannin recovery from Opuntia ficus-indica peel. SSF using Aspergillus niger significantly enhanced condensed tannins (>50 mg/g) and hydrolyzable tannins (~7 mg/g), outperforming UAE and MAE. This improvement was associated with fungal-mediated cell wall degradation and metabolic transformation. SSF extracts also showed superior antioxidant activity (DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP) and exclusive antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli (4.5 mm inhibition zone). HPLC analysis revealed increased phenolic diversity, with rhamnetin as the predominant metabolite. These findings demonstrate that SSF is not only an extraction method but also a biotransformation strategy that enhances both the yield and functionality of phenolic compounds. This approach supports the sustainable valorization of agro-industrial residues within a circular bioeconomy framework.
Arturo Coronado-Contreras, Danitza Casas-Rodríguez, Dulce W. González-Martínez et al.· Bioresources and Bioproducts· 0 citations
Chronic wounds constitute a major clinical and socioeconomic burden owing to prolonged inflammation, persistent bacterial infection, impaired angiogenesis, and defective extracellular matrix remodeling. Advanced wound dressings have traditionally been developed to promote tissue regeneration, control bacterial infection, and restore the wound microenvironment. Recent advances have focused on multifunctional biomaterials integrating regenerative, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and controlled drug-delivery properties. Within this context, antiviral biointerface engineering has emerged as a promising, although still exploratory, materials-engineering perspective rather than an established function of wound dressings. Hydrogel–metal–organic framework (MOF) hybrid polymer composites have emerged as versatile platforms for multifunctional wound dressings. Hydrogels provide hydrated three-dimensional matrices with tunable porosity, swelling behavior, mechanical compliance, and biocompatibility, whereas MOFs contribute high surface area, adjustable pore architectures, chemically tailorable active sites, and controlled ion release. Their integration generates synergistic systems whose performance is governed by structure–function relationships involving polymer crosslinking density, MOF dispersion, pore hierarchy, interfacial adhesion, swelling dynamics, and surface functionalization. Collectively, these parameters regulate mass transport, mechanical stability, therapeutic delivery, and cytocompatibility while potentially influencing virus–material interactions through engineered biointerfaces. Current evidence indicates that direct experimental demonstrations of antiviral performance in hydrogel–MOF wound dressing systems remain limited. Accordingly, antiviral biointerface functions should be regarded as emerging engineering opportunities requiring further experimental validation before clinical translation. This review critically analyzes the structure–function engineering principles governing hydrogel–MOF hybrid systems and examines how established regenerative functions may be integrated with emerging antiviral biointerface concepts. Unlike previous reviews focused primarily on drug delivery, antibacterial activity, or tissue engineering, this review emphasizes the relationships between polymer architecture, MOF chemistry, interfacial design, and transport phenomena while explicitly distinguishing experimentally supported evidence from prospective mechanistic concepts. Particular attention is given to current limitations, translational challenges, and future directions for the rational design of next-generation multifunctional hydrogel–MOF wound dressings.
Irving A. González-Lara, Nallely G. Hernández-Hernández, L. K. Usme-Duque et al.· Gels· 0 citations