Synthesis and characterization of bacterial cellulose and gelatin-based hydrogel composites for drug-delivery systems

Bacterial cellulose and gelatin were successfully used to develop a hydrogel composite material. Hydrogel was synthesized by copolymerization between bacterial cellulose and gelatin. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images showed that the bacterial cellulose chain was uniform in size and shape. Glutaraldehyde was employed as a crosslinking agent. H-bonds were formed via the reaction between the amine and hydroxyl groups, which were the functional groups of the gelatin and bacterial cellulose, respectively. The hydrogel composite presented excellent properties in terms of its thermal stability, chemical resistance, and mechanical properties. Moreover, the swelling ratio of the hydrogel network, in water, was estimated to be 400-600%. Importantly, the hydrogel composite developed during this study is considered a good candidate for drug-delivery systems.