In situ development of nanosilver-impregnated bacterial cellulose for sustainable released antimicrobial wound dressing

Purpose: Bacterial cellulose (BC) is an interesting biomaterial found application in various fields due to its novel characteristics like purity, water holding capacity, degree of polymerization and mechanical strength. BC as wound dressing material has limitation because it has no antimicrobial activity. To circumvent this problem, the present study was carried out by impregnation of silver on bacterial cellulose surface. Methods: Bacterial cellulose was produced by Gluconoacetobacter hansenii (strain NCIM 2529) by shaking culture method. The sodium borohydride and classical Tollens reaction was used for silver nanoparticle synthesis. Results: The effectiveness of sodium borohydride method compared with Tollens reaction was evaluated on the basis of silver nanoparticle formation and its impregnation on BC as evidenced by UV-Vis spectrum analysis, FE-SEM-EDS analysis and FT-IR spectrum. The potential of nano silver impregnated BC was determined for sustained release antimicrobial wound dressing material by swelling ratio, mechanical properties and antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus. Conclusions: Thus the nanosilver impregnated bacterial cellulose as promising antimicrobial wound dressing material was evidenced.