Publication date: 30 July 2026
Source: Journal of Biomimetics, Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering Vol. 73
Author(s): Mykola Fedko, Iryna Liashok, Volodymyr Khomenko, Lyudmyla Shkotova, Iryna Voloshyna
This study examines the physicochemical properties of a hydrogel composed of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and bacterial cellulose (BC), modified with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) previously synthesised via green methods using Lactobacillus acidophilus UCM B-2691. The effects of composition on moisture content, sorption behavior, and moisture desorption were assessed, and the density of the obtained samples was investigated. Increasing the bacterial cellulose content in hydrogels enhances their hydrophilicity, water-holding capacity, and sorption properties. The incorporated AgNPs are not released from the hydrogels and do not exhibit antimicrobial activity; instead, they promote the formation of a more porous, structurally stable network, which enhances sorption and lowers density. PVA/BC hydrogels containing 40–60% BC and AgNPs showed the best overall performance, combining high hydrophilicity, structural stability, and porosity. The results indicate the high potential of these hydrogel systems for biomedical technologies, particularly in controlled drug delivery and tissue engineering.
[1] Hu M., Zhang Q., Qin L. Innovative applications of multidimensional engineered hydrogels in wound healing. J. Adv. Res. (2025).
[2] Xi X. Hydrogels in Wound Healing: From Structural Design to Clinical Applications. Theor. Nat. Sci. 127 (2025) 163–177.
[3] Dart A., Bhave M., Kingshott P. Antimicrobial Peptide-Based Electrospun Fibres for Wound Healing Applications. Macromol. Biosci. 19 (2019) 1800488
[4] Chen J., He J., Yang Y., Qiao L., Hu J., Zhang J., Guo B. Antibacterial Adhesive Self-Healing Hydrogels to Promote Diabetic Wound Healing. Acta Biomater. 146 (2022) 119-130
[5] Kamoun E.A., Kenawy E.R.S., Chen X. A Review on Polymeric Hydrogel Membranes for Wound Dressing Applications: PVA-Based Hydrogel Dressings. J. Adv. Res. 8 (2017) 217-233
[6] Hu H., Xu F.J. Rational Design and Latest Advances of Polysaccharide-Based Hydrogels for Wound Healing. Biomater. Sci. 8 (2020) 2084-2101
DOI: 10.1039/D0BM00055H
[7] Liang Y., He J., Guo B. Functional Hydrogels as Wound Dressing to Enhance Wound Healing. ACS Nano. 15 (2021) 12687-12722. doi: 10.1021/acsnano. 1c04206
[8] Brumberg V., Astrelina T., Malivanova T., Samoilov A., Angelis D., Gentile P., Toma L., Tanaka R. Modern Wound Dressings: Hydrogel Dressings. Biomedicines. 9 (2021) 1235
[9] Qi L., Zhang C., Wang B., Yin J., Yan S. Progress in Hydrogels for Skin Wound Repair. Macromol. Biosci. 22 (2022) 2100475
[10] Olteanu G, Neacșu SM, Joița FA, Musuc AM, Lupu EC, Ioniță-Mîndrican CB, Lupuliasa D, Mititelu M. Advancements in Regenerative Hydrogels in Skin Wound Treatment: A Comprehensive Review. Int J Mol Sci. 25(7) (2024) 3849
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25073849
[11] Pasaribu KM, Gea S, Ilyas S, Tamrin T, Radecka I. Characterization of Bacterial Cellulose-Based Wound Dressing in Different Order Impregnation of Chitosan and Collagen. Biomolecules. 10(11) (2020) 1511
DOI: 10.3390/biom10111511
[12] Hodel KVS, Machado BAS, Sacramento GdC, Maciel CAdO, Oliveira-Junior GS, Matos BN, Gelfuso GM, Nunes SB, Barbosa JDV, Godoy ALPC. Active Potential of Bacterial Cellulose-Based Wound Dressing: Analysis of Its Potential for Dermal Lesion Treatment. Pharmaceutics. 14(6) (2022) 1222
[13] Choi SM, Rao KM, Zo SM, Shin EJ, Han SS. Bacterial Cellulose and Its Applications. Polymers. 14(6) (2022) 1080
[14] Yi X., He J., Wei X., Li H., Liu X., Cheng F. A polyphenol and ε-polylysine functionalised bacterial cellulose/PVA multifunctional hydrogel for wound healing. Int. J. Biol. Macromol. 247 (2023) 125663
[15] Leitão AF, Silva JP, Dourado F, Gama M. Production and Characterization of a New Bacterial Cellulose/Poly(Vinyl Alcohol) Nanocomposite. Materials. 6(5) (2013) 1956-1966
DOI: 10.3390/ma6051956
[16] Mo M, Wu C, Chen Y. Bacterial Cellulose-Based Superabsorbent Hydrogel for Wet Wound Dressing. Molecules. 30(3) (2025) 737
[17] Calhan A., Hasanoglu A. Bacterial cellulose as a next-generation membrane material for selective transport: properties, fabrication, and applications. Cellulose 33 (2026) 1167-1211.
[18] Vazquez-Rivas E., Desales-Guzman L. A., Pacheco-Sanchez J. H., Burillo-Amezcua S. G. Cellulose-based hybrid hydrogels for tissue engineering applications: A sustainable approach. Gels 11(6) (2025) 438.
DOI: 10.3390/gels11060438
[19] Zhang L., Zhou X., Li X., Wang K., Zhou P., Ding W., Cui J., Qiao Y., Huang S., Luan C., Zhang L., Chen K., Zhang J. Engineered sulfonated bacterial cellulose hydrogel with dual bioactive-drug delivery functions. Biomacromolecules 26(11) (2025) 7974-7988.
[20] Liashok I.O., Kriukova O.A., Shvets V.V., Kychuzhynets M.S, Halahan V.V, Stadnik D.V. Fizychni vlastyvosti hidroheliv ta plivok pvs na osnovi vodnoho ekstraktu kropyvy dvodomnoi. Herald of Khmelnytskyi National University. Technical sciences. 343(6(1) (2024) 412-417
[21] Ishchenko, O.V., Vlasenko, I.O., Shmatenko, O. P., Solomennyi, A. M., & Roik, O. M. The pharmacotechnological study for the development of applicatiс anesthetic medicinal films. Ukrainian Journal of Military Medicine. 6(3)(2025)177-187
[22] Liashok I.O., Plavan V.P., Kriukova O.A., Polushkin M.M., Shvets V.V., Shapovalova Ya.S. Influence Of Polysaccharides On Physical Properties of PVA Films And Hydrogels Based On Aqueous Extract Of The Medicinal Chamomile (Matricaria Chamomilla). Technol. and Eng. 5 (2025) 101-109
[23] Zhou Q., Abushammala H., Gao D., Xu P., Niu D., Yang W., Ma P. Human soft tissues-like PVA/cellulose hydrogels with multifunctional properties towards flexible electronics applications. Carbohydr. Polym. 357 (2025) 123425.
[24] Liang X., Ma F., Chen Y., Liu X., Yu C., Cheng G., Sun D., Tang B., Qin C., Xu L. Development of polyvinyl alcohol-bacterial cellulose-chitosan oligosaccharide composite hydrogels for potential wound healing applications. Int. J. Biol. Macromol. 338 (2026) 149668.
[25] Voloshyna I. M., Lastovetska L. O., Zurnadzhian A. A., Shkotova L. V. «Green» synthesis of metal nanoparticles. Application and future perspective // Biopolym. Cell. 39 (3) (2023) 170-188. doi: 10.7124/bc. 000A98
DOI: 10.7124/bc.000a98
[26] Shen Song, Zhao Liu, Mohamed Aamer Abubaker, Ling Ding, Ji Zhang, Shengrong Yang, Zengjie Fan, Antibacterial poly(vinyl alcohol)/bacterial cellulose/nano-silver hydrogels that effectively promote wound healing, Materials Mater. Sci. Eng. C. 126 (2021) 112171
[27] Yang L., Zhang H.Y., Yang Q., Lu D.N. Bacterial cellulose-poly(vinyl alcohol) nanocomposite hydrogels prepared by chemical cross-linking. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 126 (2012) E245-E251
DOI: 10.1002/app.36854
[28] Voloshyna I., Fedko M., Lastovetska L., Shkotova L. Green biosynthesis of AgNPs by Lactobacillus acidophilus and their use. The 10th International Conference on Advanced Materials and Systems (ICAMS 2024), National Research and Development Institute for Textiles and Leather (INCDTP). (2024) 283-288
[29] Voloshyna I.M., Fedko M.M., Valova K., Shkotova L.V. Biosynthesis of bacterial cellulose for obtaining materials for medical purposes. Collection of scientific papers based on the materials of the VI Student Satellite Regional Symposium of the International Electrochemical Society (ISE) "Promising Materials and Processes in Applied Electrochemistry" (Kyiv, KNUTD, May 22, 2024) / inc.: Khomenko V.G., Plavan V.P., Butenko O.O., Patlun D.V.; ed. Khomenko V.G. Kyiv: KNUTD, 2024, pp.111-118
[30] Song S., Liu Z., Abubaker M.A., Ding L., Zhang J., Yang S., Fan Z. Antibacterial poly(vinyl alcohol)/bacterial cellulose/nano-silver hydrogels that effectively promote wound healing. Mater. Sci. Eng. C. 126 (2021) 112171