Bacterial cellulose adhesive patches designed for soft mucosal interfaces.

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Oral Medicine
• Polymer Chemistry

Background:

• The oral cavity's wet environment poses challenges for topical therapeutics, leading to poor adhesion and short retention times.
• Existing bacterial cellulose (BC) and carbene-based bioadhesive composites often use aqueous formulations, limiting shelf-life and ease of use.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop dry, shelf-stable bacterial cellulose (BC) patches incorporating carbene-based bioadhesives for improved oral topical disease management.
• To evaluate the adhesion, stability, and barrier properties of these novel dry patches.

Main Methods:

• Optimized BC/bioadhesive mole ratios and dehydration techniques to create dry patches.
• Assessed adhesion strength on mucosal tissues compared to commercial denture adhesives.
• Evaluated structural integrity in aqueous environments and nanoporous barrier properties against bacteria and proteins.

Main Results:

• The dry patches demonstrated superior adhesion strength compared to commercial denture adhesives on soft mucosal tissues.
• Maintained structural integrity for at least 7 days in aqueous conditions.
• Functioned as a selective nanoporous barrier, preventing bacterial penetration while allowing protein permeation.

Conclusions:

• Dry, shelf-stable BC-based adhesive patches offer a promising solution for enhanced topical drug delivery and wound management in the oral cavity.
• These patches provide on-demand adhesion, long-term retention, and a protective barrier function, suitable for applications like wound dressings or drug depots.