Green biosynthesis of titanium dioxide nanoparticles incorporated gellan gum hydrogel for biomedical application as wound dressing

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO₂NPs) are widely synthesized chemically for industrial applications. However, these methods often have negative environmental impacts, rendering them unsuitable for biomedical applications. Green synthesis approaches offer a promising alternative due to their simplicity, environmental friendliness, and cost-effectiveness. In this study, we report the biosynthesis of TiO₂NPs using Morus alba leaf extract and their subsequent incorporation into a gellan gum (GG) biopolymer to create a hydrogel. The physicochemical properties of the biosynthesized TiO₂NPs and the TiO₂NP@GG hydrogel were characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Furthermore, the bioactivity of the materials was investigated through antibacterial assays against <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> and <i>Escherichia coli</i>, as well as <i>in vitro</i> wound healing studies using a 3T3 fibroblast scratch assay. XRD analysis confirmed the successful formation of anatase phase TiO₂. SEM images revealed the presence of irregular and rod-shaped TiO₂ nanoparticles, with EDS analysis confirming their composition of oxygen and titanium. The particle size was determined to be 80-90 nm, and the nanoparticles exhibited homogeneous distribution throughout the gellan gum biopolymer network. The TiO₂NP@GG hydrogel displayed significant antibacterial activity against both <i>S. aureus</i> and <i>E. coli</i>. <i>In vitro</i> wound healing studies using a scratch assay on 3T3 fibroblast cells seeded onto the hydrogel demonstrated a high cell survival rate and enhanced cell migration, suggesting potential for biomedical applications as a wound dressing material.