Genipin-crosslinked cellulose/chitosan/β-cyclodextrin molecularly imprinted hydrogel for green selective extraction of chlorogenic acid and bioactive wound dressing application

Chlorogenic acid (CGA) is a naturally occurring polyphenol with multifaceted therapeutic potential, including antimicrobial, antioxidant, and regenerative activities; however, its conventional isolation process often relies on organic solvents, raising significant ecological and environmental concerns. In this study, a cellulose-based molecularly imprinted hydrogel (MDH@SMIP) was prepared using cellulose-based hydrogel (MDH) as the substrate by genipin cross-linking (β-cyclodextrin and chitosan functional monomers). MDH@SMIP is capable of extracting CGA from crude extracts of lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea L.) to produce an antibacterial and antioxidant hydrogel dressing (MDH@SMIP-CGA), which can then be used directly for wound healing. MDH@SMIP-CGA enables stimuli-responsive and controlled delivery of CGA in response to the wound microenvironment to achieve wound bacterial inhibition and reactive oxygen species clearance. MDH@SMIP-CGA exhibits excellent biocompatibility and promotes cell proliferation and migration. Distinct from conventional workflows that rely on organic solvents to extract phytochemicals and then re-load them onto dressings, this work integrates green molecular imprinting directly into a biocompatible cellulose hydrogel. The imprinted network simultaneously recognizes, enriches and delivers CGA from crude lingonberry extract, while responding to the mildly acidic wound microenvironment for on-demand release. This all-in-one recognition-and-dressing strategy thus offers a more environmentally friendly route from crude plant biomass to a precision wound therapy that combines infection control, anti-inflammation and tissue regeneration.