Functionalization of bacterial cellulose wound dressings with the antimicrobial peptide ε -poly-L-Lysine

Abstract

Wound dressings based on bacterial cellulose (BC) can form a soft and conformable protective layer that can stimulate wound healing while preventing bacteria from entering the wound. Bacteria already present in the wound can, however, thrive in the moist environment created by the BC dressing which can aggravate the healing process. Possibilities to render the BC antimicrobial without affecting the beneficial structural and mechanical properties of the material would hence be highly attractive. Here we present methods for functionalization of BC with ε-poly-L-Lysine (ε-PLL), a non-toxic biopolymer with broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity. Low molecular weight ε-PLL was cross-linked in pristine BC membranes and to carboxymethyl cellulose functionalized BC using carbodiimide chemistry. The functionalization of BC with ε-PLL inhibited growth of S. epidermidis on the membranes but did not affect the cytocompatibility to cultured human fibroblasts as compared to native BC. The functionalization had no significant effects on the nanofibrous structure and mechanical properties of the BC. The possibility to functionalize BC with ε-PLL is a promising, green and versatile approach to improve the performance of BC in wound care and other biomedical applications.

Bacterial cellulose: a versatile biopolymer for wound dressing applications

“…Both strategies resulted in membranes with unaltered cytocompatibility to human fibroblasts and with capacity to inhibit growth of S. epidermidis on contact. The functionalization with ε‐PLL had no significant effects on the nanofibrous structure and mechanical properties of BC (Fursatz et al ., ).…”

Scaffolds for 3D Cell Culture and Cellular Agriculture Applications Derived From Non-animal Sources

“…Although plant and bacterial cellulose share an identical α-cellulose structure, bacterial cellulose possess greater crystallinity, degree of polymerization and water holding capacity (Esa et al, 2014;Moniri et al, 2017). These attributes have been invaluable in a wide array of applications, including medical (Petersen and Gatenholm, 2011;Fürsatz et al, 2018), cosmetics (Pacheco et al, 2018) and food (Shi et al, 2014). The food applications include cultural desserts such as Nata de coco; and functional properties such as gelling agent, stabilizer and thickener (Shi et al, 2014).…”

Opportunities of Bacterial Cellulose to Treat Epithelial Tissues

“…Moreover, a wound infection model proved enhanced wound healing ability in vivo. In another study, antimicrobial peptides such as ε-poly-L-Lysine (ε-PLL) were investigated [94]. This peptide is a non-toxic biopolymer with broadspectrum antimicrobial activity.…”