Waste plant‑derived cellulose hydrogels from orange peel and hemp stems as tailored porous platforms for mesenchymal stem cell culture

Abstract Plant‑derived cellulose hydrogels were prepared from orange peel and hemp stem agroindustrial wastes and compared with microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) hydrogels as a control system. The materials were systematically characterized in terms of morphology, crystallinity, 3D porosity, swelling and degradation behavior, thermal stability, protein adsorption and in vitro biocompatibility. SEM and micro‑CT revealed a fibrous, interconnected porous architecture with overall porosities of approximately 92% and 78% for orange‑ and hemp‑derived hydrogels, respectively, while X‑ray diffraction, FTIR and Raman spectroscopy confirmed the typical structure of cellulosic networks. The hydrogels showed a three‑stage thermal degradation profile and high swelling capacity, reaching about 1000% (orange) and 600% (hemp) after 3 h of immersion. All formulations showed evidence of protein adsorption, together with antibacterial effects and mesenchymal stem cell viabilities above 80%, with increasing metabolic activity over time, indicating non‑cytotoxic behavior and supporting cell proliferation. Overall, orange-derived cellulose hydrogels provided a more favorable substrate for mesenchymal stem cell adhesion and growth than hemp-based and MCC hydrogels. Their high porosity and swelling capacity support their potential use as wound dressings by facilitating fluid uptake and retention, while their porous architecture and cytocompatibility support their potential application as scaffolds for mesenchymal stem cell culture in tissue engineering. These findings support the use of waste-derived cellulose as a sustainable source for biomedical hydrogel applications.