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Volume 12
Issue 1
10.3390/gels12010046
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This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

Multifunctional GO-Based Hydrogels with Various Inorganic Additives for Oral Health and Photodynamic Activation

by
Codruta Sarosi
1,
Marioara Moldovan
1,*,
Ioan Petean
2,
Miuta Filip
3,
Gabriel Furtos
1,
Sonia Balint
1,
Rahela Carpa
4 and
Andrei Cristian Ionescu
5,6
1
Department of Polymer Composites, Institute of Chemistry Raluca Ripan, Babeș-Bolyai University, 30 Fantanele St., 400294 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
2
Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Babeș-Bolyai University, 11 Arany Janos St., 400028 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
3
Department of Analytical Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry Raluca Ripan, Babeș-Bolyai University, 30 Fantanele St., 400294 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
4
Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology and Geology, Babeș-Bolyai University, 1 M. Kogalniceanu Street, 400084 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
5
Oral Microbiology and Biomaterials Laboratory, Department of Biomedical, Surgical, and Dental Sciences, University of Milan, Via Pascal 36, 20133 Milan, Italy
6
Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Gels 2026, 12(1), 46; https://doi.org/10.3390/gels12010046 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 28 November 2025 / Revised: 18 December 2025 / Accepted: 26 December 2025 / Published: 1 January 2026
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gels for Oral, Maxillofacial, Dental Medicine or Cosmetic Use)
Versions Notes

Abstract

In this study, we present the synthesis and characterization of graphene oxide (GO)-based hydrogels reinforced with hydroxyapatite (HA), titanium dioxide (TiO2), zinc oxide (ZnO), silicon oxide (SiO2), silver (Ag), and graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4). The aim is to develop multifunctional hydrogels with enhanced structural and biological performance and photocatalytic activity, opening the way for applications in regenerative medicine. The structure and composition of the hydrogels were investigated using FTIR and UV–Vis spectroscopy, which highlighted the chemical interactions between GO and the incorporated nanoparticles. The morphology was analyzed through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and metallographic optical microscopy (MOM), confirming a uniform distribution of the inorganic phases and an internal architecture optimized for stability and bioactivity. Antibacterial activity was evaluated against Gram-positive and Gram-negative strains, both in the absence and presence of photodynamic therapy. The latter was activated by a Woodpecker laser at a 420 nm wavelength. The results showed significant bacterial inhibition, further enhanced by laser exposure, suggesting a synergistic effect between photocatalytic activation and the hydrogel components. Overall, the obtained hydrogels demonstrate robust mechano-structural properties and promising biological activity, supporting their potential for innovative biomedical applications in the tissue regeneration field and for the emerging biofunctional technologies.
Keywords: hydrogel; graphene oxide; photodynamic therapy (PDT); antibacterial; SEM hydrogel; graphene oxide; photodynamic therapy (PDT); antibacterial; SEM

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Sarosi, C.; Moldovan, M.; Petean, I.; Filip, M.; Furtos, G.; Balint, S.; Carpa, R.; Ionescu, A.C. Multifunctional GO-Based Hydrogels with Various Inorganic Additives for Oral Health and Photodynamic Activation. Gels 2026, 12, 46. https://doi.org/10.3390/gels12010046

AMA Style

Sarosi C, Moldovan M, Petean I, Filip M, Furtos G, Balint S, Carpa R, Ionescu AC. Multifunctional GO-Based Hydrogels with Various Inorganic Additives for Oral Health and Photodynamic Activation. Gels. 2026; 12(1):46. https://doi.org/10.3390/gels12010046

Chicago/Turabian Style

Sarosi, Codruta, Marioara Moldovan, Ioan Petean, Miuta Filip, Gabriel Furtos, Sonia Balint, Rahela Carpa, and Andrei Cristian Ionescu. 2026. "Multifunctional GO-Based Hydrogels with Various Inorganic Additives for Oral Health and Photodynamic Activation" Gels 12, no. 1: 46. https://doi.org/10.3390/gels12010046

APA Style

Sarosi, C., Moldovan, M., Petean, I., Filip, M., Furtos, G., Balint, S., Carpa, R., & Ionescu, A. C. (2026). Multifunctional GO-Based Hydrogels with Various Inorganic Additives for Oral Health and Photodynamic Activation. Gels, 12(1), 46. https://doi.org/10.3390/gels12010046

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