This article presents a method for producing hydrogel dressings using high methylated pectin from apples or citrus, doped with the antiseptic agent, octenidine dihydrochloride. Octenidine was incorporated in-situ during the polymer crosslinking. The pectins were characterized by their varying molecular weight characteristics, monosaccharide composition, and degree of esterification (DE). The study assessed the feasibility of producing biologically active hydrogels with pectin and delved into how the polymer's characteristics affect the properties of the resulting dressings. The structure evaluation of hydrogel materials showed interactions between individual components of the system and their dependence on the type of used pectin. Both the antimicrobial properties and cytotoxicity of the dressings were evaluated. The results suggest that the primary determinants of the functional attributes of the hydrogels are the molecular weight characteristics and the DE of the pectin. As these values rise, there is an increase in polymer-polymer interactions, overshadowing polymer-additive interactions. This intensification strengthens the mechanical and thermal stability of the hydrogels and enhances the release of active components into the surrounding environment. Biological evaluations demonstrated the ability of octenidine to be released from the dressings and effectively inhibit the growth of microbial pathogens.

Bohdan Dobrzański Institute of Agrophysics of the Polish Academy of Sciences Doświadczalna 4 20 290 Lublin Poland

Chembiotech Laboratories Ltd Tenbury Wells Worcs WR15 8FF United Kingdom

Department of Engineering and Technology of Polymers Faculty of Chemistry Wroclaw University of Science and Technology Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego 42 Wroclaw 50 370 Poland

Department of Engineering and Technology of Polymers Faculty of Chemistry Wroclaw University of Science and Technology Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego 42 Wroclaw 50 370 Poland; Łukasiewicz Research Network PORT Polish Center for Technology Development Stabłowicka 147 Wroclaw 54 066 Poland

Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry CAS Heyrovského nám 1888 2 162 00 Prague 6 Czech Republic

Łukasiewicz Research Network PORT Polish Center for Technology Development Stabłowicka 147 Wroclaw 54 066 Poland

Łukasiewicz Research Network PORT Polish Center for Technology Development Stabłowicka 147 Wroclaw 54 066 Poland; Faculty of Chemistry University of Wrocław Joliot Curie 14 50 383 Wrocław Poland

Platform for Unique Models Application Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Parasitology Wroclaw Medical University Borowska 211 50 534 Wrocław Poland

References provided by Crossref.org