In-situ loading of ag nanoparticles and sodium cefoperazone onto bacterial cellulose-based composite antimicrobial films for promoting wound healing

This study focuses on bacterial cellulose (BC), a material with a three-dimensional network structure, excellent biocompatibility, and superior mechanical properties, to address its inherent limitations of insufficient antibacterial activity and poor rehydration capability. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized in situ on the BC surface via a hydrothermal method, followed by immersion in polyethylene glycol (PEG) and cefoperazone sodium (CEFNa) solutions to prepare BC/Ag/PEG/CEFNa composite films. The BC films and composites were comprehensively characterized using techniques such as XRD, SEM, and FTIR spectroscopy. Systematic characterization results revealed that the introduction of PEG not only increased the film's moisture absorption and water vapor permeability by 2.8 and 1.7 times, respectively, but also enhanced the CEFNa loading capacity to 1.6 times that of pure BC. Antibacterial experiments demonstrated that while pure BC films exhibited no antibacterial activity, the composite films showed inhibition zone diameters of 15.5 mm, 17.5 mm, and 12.3 mm against Escherichia coli , Staphylococcus aureus , and Pseudomonas aeruginosa , respectively. Mouse wound healing experiments indicated that the wound healing rate of the composite film treatment group was significantly improved by 21.9 % compared to the pure BC group after 15 days. These results demonstrate that the prepared BC/Ag/PEG/CEFNa composite films possess excellent physicochemical properties, significant antibacterial activity, and remarkable wound-healing effects, highlighting their great potential as advanced wound dressings for skin injury repair.