This thesis presents the development of antibacterial hydrogels derived from the fungal cell wall of Rhizopus delemar, with potential applications in wound healing. Chronic wounds, such as diabetic ulcers and pressure sores, pose a significant healthcare challenge due to prolonged healing times and rising antibiotic resistance. As an alternative to conventional wound dressings, hydrogels offer a moist, breathable, and biocompatible environment that supports tissue regeneration. This study aims to produce sustainable hydrogels using fungal biomass cultivated on various substrates, including apple pomace, waste bread substrate and glucose-yeast extract medium.

The fungal cell wall materials were extracted from fungal biomass, processed into hydrogels, and crosslinked with genipin to improve mechanical properties, adhesiveness, and stability. The hydrogels were evaluated through in vitro tests to determine their swelling behavior, contact angle, adhesiveness, antibacterial activity, porosity, rheological properties, and biodegradability. Analytical techniques, including high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), were employed to evaluate the composition and structure of both the fungal cell wall and hydrogels. The results showed that the genipin-crosslinked hydrogels demonstrated strong antibacterial activity, good swelling capacity, and suitable mechanical and adhesive properties. Hydrogels derived from apple pomace and bread waste substrates exhibited performance comparable to those cultivated in glucose-yeast extract medium, highlighting the potential of food waste as a low-cost substrate for developing fungal-based hydrogels.

Overall, this work demonstrates a promising approach to developing eco-friendly, bioactive wound dressings from fungal sources and provides a basis for further research toward clinical applications.