Preparation of Green Synthesized Carbon Dots Loaded Curcumin Bioactive Hydrogel Scaffold with High Antibacterial and Cytocompatibility Properties

Abstract

Bioactive hydrogels have gained greater attention as tissue regeneration scaffolds due to facile integration of bio-functional nanomaterials and bioactive agents enhancing stability, cellular attachment, and controlled biomolecule release. In this study, a composite hydrogel (CPCC) loaded with carbon dots (CDs) synthesized from red Indian guava leaves and curcumin was developed using a biopolymer matrix. UV–Vis spectroscopy confirmed the graphitic nature of CDs, while FTIR spectra confirmed the interactions between functional groups. XRD analysis revealed characteristic peaks at 19.36°, 23.55°, and 26.36°, showing a semi-crystalline structure. FESEM analysis showed a suitable morphology with uniform CD and curcumin dispersion in the biopolymer matrix, while EDX and elemental mapping confirmed the homogeneous distribution of C, N, O, and P elements. The hydrogel exhibited concentration dependent antibacterial activity against Streptococcus mutans and Enterococcus faecalis. Cytocompatibility studies using human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) demonstrated high cell viability (>83%), with normal morphology and strong cell adhesion, confirming its biocompatibility. These findings suggest that the CPCC hydrogel possesses desirable properties suitable for oral and maxillofacial tissue engineering. Further in-vitro and in-vivo studies are required to validate its osteogenic efficacy, degradation kinetics, and optimized mechanical and therapeutic performance for clinical translation.