Preparation of Gentamicin Conjugated Cellulose Nanocrystals and Evaluation of Efficacy on Different Microorganisms

Abstract

Large amounts of waste cotton material generated in textile production cause environmental problems and resource depletion. The production of nanocrystalline cellulose is one of the effective way to the recycling of waste cotton. Cellulose nanoparticles are of great interest in biomedical applications due to their various properties. In this study cellulose nanocrystals were produced from waste cotton through acid hydrolysis in a single step. The extraction of cellulose from waste cotton was carried out by alkalin treatment, afterthat the cellulose nanocrystals were isolated by the nitric acid (68% w/w) and hydrochloride acid (37% w/w) mixture acid hydrolysis. Cellulose nanocrystals were oxidized by sodium periodate (NaIO4) for functionalization. The prepared cellulose nanocrystals were characterized by Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) then gentamicin conjugation studies were carried out. Gentamicin conjugated cellulose nanoparticles were examined for antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli (E. coli), Staphylococcus aureus (S. Aureus), Pseudomonas aeruginosa(aeruginosa), Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae) and antifungal activity against Candida albicans (C. Albicans). The results confirmed that the periodate oxidized cellulose nanocrystals are effective on bacterai and fungus.