Bacteria-Derived Cellulose Membranes Modified with Graphene Oxide-Silver Nanoparticles for Accelerating Wound Healing
Érika Patrícia Chagas Gomes Luz, Thamyres Freire da Silva, Lidyane Souto Maciel Marques, Alexandre Andrade, Marcos V. Lorevice, Fábia Karine Andrade, Yang Liu, A. G. Souza Filho, Andréia Fonseca de Faria, Rodrigo Silveira Vieira
Abstract
High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide This study reports on the modification of bacterial cellulose (BC) membranes produced by static fermentation of Komagataeibacter xylinus bacterial strains with graphene oxide-silver nanoparticles (GO-Ag) to yield skin wound dressings with improved antibacterial properties. The GO-Ag sheets were synthesized through chemical reduction with sodium citrate and were utilized to functionalize the BC membranes (BC/GO-Ag). The BC/GO-Ag composites were characterized to determine their surface charge, morphology, exudate absorption, antimicrobial activity, and cytotoxicity by using fibroblast cells. The antimicrobial activity of the wound dressings was assessed against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa . The results indicate that the BC/GO-Ag dressings can inhibit ∼70% of E. coli cells. Our findings also revealed that the porous BC/GO-Ag antimicrobial dressings can efficiently retain 94% of exudate absorption after exposure to simulated body fluid (SBF) for 24 h. These results suggest that the dressings could absorb excess exudate from the wound during clinical application, maintaining adequate moisture, and promoting the proliferation of epithelial cells. The BC/GO-Ag hybrid materials exhibited excellent mechanical flexibility and low cytotoxicity to fibroblast cells, making excellent wound dressings able to control bacterial infectious processes and promote the fast healing of dermal lesions.