Graphene Oxide Carboxymethylcellulose Nanocomposite for Dressing Materials

Abstract

Sore, infected wounds are a major clinical issue, and there is thus an urgent need for novel biomaterials as multifunctional constituents for dressings. A set of biocomposites was prepared by solvent casting using different concentrations of carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) and exfoliated graphene oxide (<i>Exf</i>-GO) as a filler. <i>Exf</i>-GO was first obtained by the strong oxidation and exfoliation of graphite. The structural, morphological and mechanical properties of the composites (CMCx/<i>Exf</i>-GO) were evaluated, and the obtained composites were homogenous, transparent and brownish in color. The results confirmed that <i>Exf</i>-GO may be homogeneously dispersed in CMC. It was found that the composite has an inhibitory activity against the Gram-positive <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>, but not against Gram-negative <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i>. At the same time, it does not exhibit any cytotoxic effect on normal fibroblasts.