Effect of Gamma Irradiation on Mechanical Properties of Bacterial Cellulose Sheets for Wet Wound Dressings

Abstract

With advances in material science, new approaches for synthesis and modification utilizing modern techniques have become achievable. Bacterial cellulose (BC), being non-toxic, highly pure, and biocompatible is a versatile biomaterial with various biomedical applications for drug delivery, tissue implants, corneal treatment, and wound dressings. Although BC is capable of improved cell viability and attachment but in its native form it does not show antimicrobial activity. Therefore, it is essential to maintain the sterility of BC based wound dressings by various techniques. Gamma irradiation is a safe sterilization technique. As it has high penetration ability, it is important to analyze its effects on mechanical properties of BC after treatment. Our main interest is the effect of gamma dosages on the integrity of the BC pellicles after exposure. The present work also is on research outcomes of BC in biomedical applications with focus on modern BC based wet dressings for burns and wound healing. In our work, BC was produced by commonly used bacterium Komagataeibacter hansenii. After its production, BC membranes were sterilized by different doses (5KGy,10KGy and 15KGy) of gamma irradiation. The degradation assay was performed in phosphate buffer saline solution for the period of six months. Characterization and comparison of membrane before and after irradiation and degradation in different intervals were performed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), Sterility test, swelling ratio, degradation, antibacterial, drug release assay and cell viability assay.