Bacterial cellulose-lignin composite hydrogel as a promising agent in chronic wound healing

Abstract

Lignins and lignin-derived compounds are known to have antibacterial properties. The wound healing agents in the form of dressings produce faster skin repair and decrease pain in patients. In order to create an efficient antimicrobial agent in the form of dressing in the treatment of chronic wounds, a composite hydrogel of bacterial cellulose (BC) and dehydrogenative polymer of coniferyl alcohol (DHP), BC-DHP, was designed. Novel composite showed inhibitory or bactericidal effects against selected pathogenic bacteria, including clinically isolated ones. The highest release rate of DHP was in the first hour, while after 24 h there was still slow release of small amounts of DHP from BC-DHP during 72 h monitoring. High-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass-spectrometry showed that BC-DHP releases DHP oligomers, which are proposed to be antimicrobially active DHP fractions. Scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy micrographs proved a dose-dependent interaction of DHP with BC, which resulted in a decrease of the pore number and size in the cellulose membrane. The Fourier-transform infrared absorption spectra of the BC-DHP showed that DHP was partly bound to the BC matrix. The swelling and crystallinity degree were dose-dependent. All obtained results confirmed BC-DHP composite as a promising hydrogel for wounds healing.

Engineering Bacterial Cellulose for Diverse Biomedical Applications

“…For example, the use of coniferyl alcohol as a composite hydrogel with BC has helped in providing substantial anti-microbial properties to BC where this area was previously problematic. The consistent release of coniferyl alcohol can maintain up to 72 hours of antimicrobial activity, along with the high porous nature of BC itself, serves as promising alternative to chronic wound healing [102]. The incorporation of BC with vaccarin, a flavonoid glycoside extracted from vaccaria seed, has been used in wound treatment experiments to promote vascularization and has shown the ability to retain up to 73.6% cell viability after 14 days incubation.…”

“…Bacterial cellulose hydrogel composites containing lignin dehydrogenative polymer of coniferyl alcohol have shown prolonged periods of release (72 hours) to provide antibacterial activity against P. aeruginosa, S. aureus, Serratia sp., L. monocytogenes, and S. typhimurium [102]. Other natural products like thymol (the monoterpenoid phenol derivative of cymene extracted from thyme) when used for soaking of BC films allowed absorption and when used to examine for antibacterial effect resulted in release of the thymol to facilitated large zones of inhibition against S. aureus, E. coli, P. aeruginosa, and K. penumoniae [143].…”

Nanocellulose in Biotechnology and Medicine: Focus on Skin Tissue Engineering and Wound Healing

“…Other antimicrobial compounds are bromelain, a protease present in pineapple tissues, which also has anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties [243], lignin and lignin-derived compounds [244], and particularly curcumin, i.e. a naturally occurring polyphenolic compound isolated from Curcuma longa.…”

Bacterial nano cellulose as non-active pharmaceutical ingredient. Advances and perspectives

“…18 Among the potentialities of BNC are some highly relevant pharmaceutical applications such as biomedical implants or scaffolds, translucent films, controlled release systems, antimicrobial dressings and patches with barrier action. [19][20][21] Enzymes immobilization, tissues engineering. Among the most interesting applications are bone, cartilage, corneas, artificial skin, and dental materials and implants.…”