Nonleachable Antibacterial Nanocellulose with Excellent Cytocompatible and UV-Shielding Properties Achieved by Counterion Exchange with Nature-Based Phenolic Acids
Jing Ru, Zhanghui Wang, Congcong Tong, Hongzhi Liu, Guofeng Wang, Zhaoxiang Peng
Abstract
It remains a challenge to develop a multifunctional nanocellulose material with excellent antibacterial and cytocompatible properties. Herein, we report novel quaternized nanofibrillated cellulose (Q-NFC) anchored with nature-based p-coumaric acid (PCA) counterions (abbreviated as “PCA-Q-NFC”) via a more facile anion-exchange treatment than conventional chemical modification. Both Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results validated that anion PCA was successfully attached to Q-NFC. The PCA-Q-NFC films were found to be in active contact against the growth of Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus with a nonleachable nature. Even at a low loading level of the PCA moiety, the quantitative antibacterial activity of the resulting PCA-Q-NFC film was markedly superior to that of the virgin Q-NFC one. The cell survival test demonstrated that the in vitro cytocompatibility was markedly improved after the attachment of PCA. The presence of bulky PCA anions with a conjugated structure imparted the Q-NFC film with the superior UV-blocking percentage (up to 97.7%) and oxygen-barrier property. In addition, other phenolic acids (i.e., ferulic acid and caffeic acid) were attempted to demonstrate the universal applicability of this strategy. The exceptional combination of antibacterial in vitro cytocompatible and UV-shielding properties would enable phenol acid-modified Q-NFCs to have promising potentials in packaging, medical, and cosmetic applications. Our work would provide a new idea for the design of functionalized NFC toward versatile performance.