Antibacterial Activity of Hydrogels Produced from Nanocellulose Derivatives for Controlled Drug Delivery

Abstract

Cellulose can be extracted from Sengon wood (Paraserianthes falcataria) waste, and the cellulose obtained is hydrolyzed to produce nanocellulose, which is cellulose with a smaller size. The physical and chemical properties of Sengon wood nanocellulose have been reported in previous research. 4 Nanocellulose is modified with rosin through an esterification reaction to produce nanocellulose esther. 5,6 A commodity that is common in Indonesia is rosin, which contains abietic acid. 7,8 The chemical structure of abietic acid consists of three cyclic compounds that are linked together and have a carboxylic functional group in one of the rings. 9 The present study was conducted to synthesize hydrogels from nanocellulose from Sengon wood (Paraserianthes falcataria) whose surface structure was modified by rosin plant abietic acid to obtain nanocellulose esters. The antibacterial activity of the hydrogels was also investigated. Materials and Methods Materials usedThe material used in this study included cellulose from Sengon, rosin (technical grade), ethanol (CH3CH2OH), chloroform (CH3Cl; 99% purity from Merck, Germany), sodium hydroxide (NaOH; 99% purity from Merck, Germany), urea ((NH2)2CO; 99% purity from Merck, Germany), epichlorohydrin (C3H5ClO; 99% purity from Merck, Germany), curcumin extract, Mueller Hinton Agar (MHA; 99% purity from Merck, Germany), nutrient broth (99% purity from Merck, Germany), n-hexane (C6H14; 99% purity from Merck, Germany), cotton, sterile cotton swab, sterile gauze, and distilled water (H2O). Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were the bacterial isolates used for the study.