Bacterial cellulose-turmeric powder composites as potential therapeutic wound dressings

Abstract

Bacterial cellulose (BC) has emerged as a promising biomaterial for rapid wound healing and tissue regeneration due to its excellent liquid absorbing and biocompatible properties. However, its lack of therapeutic properties restricts its applicability as a wound dressing. The current study was undertaken to develop bacterial cellulose-turmeric powder (BC-TP) composite films as wound dressing materials that combine the therapeutic properties of turmeric powder (TP) with the unique structural, physicochemical, and biological properties of BC. FTIR and SEM showed that TP was successfully impregnated into BC films using an ex-situ approach. Swelling and water release rate studies revealed that the composite films produced had high-water uptake and retention capacities. Antibacterial investigations using gram-positive and -negative species demonstrated the significant antibacterial potential of TP when incorporated into a BC matrix. Toxicity testing confirmed the non-cytotoxic nature of BC-TP composite films, while biocompatibility investigations demonstrated that fibroblast cells attached and proliferated effectively on BC films treated with TP. Furthermore, BC-TP composites promoted tissue regeneration, hair growth, and wound healing. BC composites exhibited over 90% wound closure by the 7th day, whereas untreated wounds demonstrated only approximately 24% closure during the same period. The study shows that the manufactured BC-TP composite films offer starting points for the development of alternative standard wound dressing systems.