Excellent Dark/Light Dual-Mode Photoresponsive Activities Based on g-C₃N₄/CMCh/PVA Nanocomposite Hydrogel Using...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Environmental Science
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Photocatalytic technology is crucial for water disinfection.
• Developing efficient and versatile sterilization methods is essential for environmental remediation and healthcare.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a dark-light dual-mode sterilized hydrogel with enhanced properties.
• To investigate the photocatalytic, antimicrobial, and mechanical characteristics of the novel material.
• To assess the biocompatibility for potential applications in sewage treatment and wound dressing.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of g-C3N4/chitosan/poly (vinyl alcohol) hydrogel (g-CP) using freeze-thaw cycling and in situ electron-beam radiation.
• Characterization of g-CP structure and morphology via FTIR, XRD, XPS, SEM, UV-vis DRS, and BET analysis.
• Evaluation of photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) and antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus).
• Assessment of mechanical properties (tensile and compressive modulus) and biocompatibility using CCK-8 and Hoechst33342/PI staining.

Main Results:

• The g-CP hydrogel exhibited efficient photocatalytic degradation of RhB (65.92% in 60 min).
• g-CP demonstrated significant antimicrobial activity against E. coli and S. aureus within 4 hours.
• The hydrogel showed adjustable shapes, good mechanical properties (tensile modulus 0.093 MPa, compressive modulus 1.61 MPa for 2 wt% g-CP), and excellent biocompatibility.

Conclusions:

• The developed g-CP hydrogel offers a promising dark-light dual-mode sterilization solution.
• Its tunable properties, efficacy in pollutant degradation, and antimicrobial action make it suitable for water treatment.
• The material's biocompatibility supports its potential use in advanced wound dressings.