Functionalization of composite bacterial cellulose with C₆₀nanoparticles for wound dressing and cancer therapy

Abstract

A series of novel bacterial cellulose/C₆₀ (BCC₆₀) composites was prepared using a original dehydration-rehydration method. The composites were characterized to demonstrate their potential in multifunctional wound dressings for skin cancer treatment using photodynamic therapy. Raman spectroscopy revealed that the C₆₀ nanoparticles were successfully incorporated into the bacterial cellulose (BC) network. Scanning electron microscopy was used to examine the morphology and distribution of the C₆₀ particles as photosensitizers in the bacterial cellulose network, and the C₆₀ particles were uniformly distributed in the hyperfine three-dimensional BC network with diameters less than 100 nm. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) measurements indicated that the BCC₆₀ composites possessed a high ROS generation ability when exposed to light. The antibacterial assessment of the BCC₆₀ composites revealed their ability to inhibit the growth of <i>E. coli</i> and <i>S. aureus</i> and their relationship with light irradiation. <i>In vitro</i> cell experiments also confirmed that the BCC₆₀ composites had low cytotoxicity in the dark, while they exhibited significant cancer cell damage activity under visible light.