Bioactive nanocomposites of bacterial cellulose and natural hydrocolloids

The aim of this work was to develop bioactive films from bacterial cellulose and hydrocolloids (guar gum and hyaluronic acid), coated or not with collagen. After mechanical treatment, a suspension of cellulose nanofibres was obtained which, combined with the dispersions of hydrocolloids, was used to produce bionanocomposite films by wet casting. The materials were stable in physiological solution and presented better swelling capacity than that of the bacterial cellulose. The films were coated with collagen by dipping. Cell adhesion tests and surface analysis by tensiometry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy showed that the surface properties of the films can be adjusted by changing the proportions of the components. The collagen coating presented a self-assembling pattern resembling that of living tissues. The materials developed in this work showed potential for applications in the medical field as bioactive wound dressings, scaffolds for cellular growth and sustained drug release systems. The films were obtained by simple production and purification methods, including the use of low toxicity solvents. Thus, in addition to potential cost saving, the development of these bionanocomposites is in accordance with green chemistry principles.