Production of bacterial cellulose with high active components loading capacity for skin wound repair

Scutellaria baicalensis extracts (SBACs), a herb that contains a variety of bioactive flavonoids like baicalein and baicalin, which impart antibacterial, antioxidant, and other biological activities, were used to create bacterial cellulose (BC) with a high components-loading capacity in-situ. Higher S-L ratios raised the quantities of the active ingredients (baicalin and baicalein), enhancing antibacterial and antioxidant activities. Considering both components-loading efficiency (322 mg/g of baicalin and 8.79 mg/g of baicalein) and production viability, an S-L ratio of 1:20 was determined as the optimal for preparing BC/SBACs membranes. These membranes exhibited superior mechanical strength and thermal stability compared to pure BC. Furthermore, when compared to membranes made via physical adsorption, the in-situ produced BC/SBACs exhibited a higher capacity for loading components and a more effective release of those components. A three-dimensional network structure was discovered using morphological analysis, which facilitated the integration of active ingredients. In vitro biocompatibility tests showed that BC/SBACs hydrogel was safe, exhibiting no hemolysis and low cytotoxicity. In vivo experiments on a full-thickness skin defect model in mice demonstrated a significantly higher wound-healing rate. The study highlights the potential of BC to improve clinical treatment outcomes by providing an easy way to combine it with traditional Chinese medicine.