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

<i>Antrodia cinnamomea</i> 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 <i>cinnamomea</i> 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 <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> 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 <i>A. cinnamomea</i> 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 <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> strains, including <i>Staphylococcus</i> ATTC 1768, showed promising results, with inhibition zones ranging from 10.64 to 12.11 mm. In summary, <i>Antrodia cinnamomea</i> residue hydrogels combine UV protection with antimicrobial activity, making them a promising candidate for medical applications, particularly as a wound-healing dressing.