Orange Peel and Hemp Waste Turned into Cellulose Hydrogels That Support Stem Cell Growth

Researchers have transformed two abundant agroindustrial wastes, orange peel and hemp stems, into cellulose hydrogels designed as porous platforms for mesenchymal stem cell culture, and reported that the orange-derived material outperformed both a hemp-based version and a microcrystalline cellulose control in supporting cell adhesion and growth.

The team prepared hydrogels from the two plant wastes and compared them with hydrogels made from microcrystalline cellulose. All materials were systematically characterized for morphology, crystallinity, three-dimensional porosity, swelling and degradation behavior, thermal stability, protein adsorption and in vitro biocompatibility.

Imaging with scanning electron microscopy and micro-computed tomography revealed a fibrous, interconnected porous architecture.

The hydrogels displayed a three-stage thermal degradation profile and high swelling capacity. After three hours of immersion, the orange-derived hydrogels absorbed roughly 1000 percent of their weight in fluid, while the hemp-derived hydrogels reached about 600 percent, a property the researchers link to fluid uptake and retention relevant to wound dressing applications.

All formulations showed evidence of protein adsorption, together with antibacterial effects.

In vitro testing showed mesenchymal stem cell viabilities above 80 percent for all formulations, with metabolic activity increasing over time. The authors interpret this as non-cytotoxic behavior that supports cell proliferation, with the orange-derived hydrogels providing the most favorable substrate for adhesion and growth among the three systems tested.

Based on these results, the team proposes two potential applications. The high porosity and swelling capacity support potential use as wound dressings by facilitating fluid uptake and retention, while the porous architecture and cytocompatibility support potential use as scaffolds for mesenchymal stem cell culture in tissue engineering. The findings are presented as supporting waste-derived cellulose as a sustainable source for biomedical hydrogel applications, though the reported results are from in vitro characterization and early cell culture testing rather than clinical studies.

Subject of Research: Cellulose hydrogels made from orange peel and hemp stem waste as scaffolds for mesenchymal stem cell culture

Article Title: Waste plant‑derived cellulose hydrogels from orange peel and hemp stems as tailored porous platforms for mesenchymal stem cell culture

Article References: Zamora-Ledezma, C., Solano-Orrala, D., García-Remesal, B., Negrete-Bolagay, D., Molleja, J. G., Hermoso-Gil, J., Baquero, M. R., Romero-Pozuelo, J., Gomez-Castillo, N., Guerrero, V. H., & Alexis, F. (2026). Waste plant‑derived cellulose hydrogels from orange peel and hemp stems as tailored porous platforms for mesenchymal stem cell culture. Discover Materials. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43939-026-01052-0

Image Credits: AI Generated

DOI: 10.1007/s43939-026-01052-0

Keywords: cellulose hydrogels, orange peel, hemp stems, agroindustrial waste, mesenchymal stem cells, tissue engineering, wound dressings, porosity, biocompatibility, micro-CT, swelling capacity, scaffolds