Improving some structural and biological characteristics of bacterial cellulose by cross‐linking

Abstract

AbstractBacterial cellulose (BC) has received attention in research because of its unique characteristics. Especially, it has emerged as a very promising and versatile candidate for biomedical applications. In this study, it was aimed to boost some structural and biological properties of BC by crosslinking, which play important role in medical field. Synthesized, purified, and neutralized BC pellicles were cross‐linked (X‐linked) in different concentrations (5, 10, and 20 wt/vol%) with citric acid/sodium hypophosphite. Formation of X‐Links confirmed by Fourier transform‐infrared. Obtained spectrums showed that the density of X‐links would raise up to a limit with increasing the concentration of citric acid. X‐ray diffraction data analysis of samples showed a decline in crystallinity of samples with increasing the intensity of X‐linking treatment. Scanning electron microscope images and MTT assay confirmed the better cell adhesion, viability and proliferation for X‐linked samples and no toxicity was observed for all samples including (non‐X‐linked and X‐linked). It was concluded that some important structural and biological properties of BC (which were very critical for biomedical applications) were related mutually and could be modified with X‐linking treatment simultaneously.