Bacterial cellulose/thiolated chitosan nanoparticles hybrid antimicrobial dressing for curcumin delivery

Thiolated chitosan (Cs-SH) nanoparticles were synthesized and incorporated into bacterial cellulose (BC) membranes through vacuum-assisted confinement. Thiolation significantly enhanced the intrinsic adhesion capacity of chitosan (Cs) as well as its solubility in neutral aqueous solutions. Subsequently, Cs-SH nanoparticles were successfully loaded with curcumin (Cur-Cs-SH), with nanoparticle sizes of 121 ± 2 nm for Cs-SH and 152 ± 6 nm for Cur-Cs-SH. Stability assessments revealed improved pH tolerance and colloidal stability due to the introduction of thiol groups and curcumin encapsulation. Notably, the retention yield of nanoparticles in BC was calculated to be 99 % (w/v) within 45 min. Nanoparticle and curcumin in vitro release studies demonstrated pH-dependent profiles, indicating controlled release kinetics influenced by initial loading and environmental acidity. Moreover, the enhanced adhesive properties of the developed BC membranes, verified by mucin disks and porcine skin adhesion tests, suggested their potential for targeted drug delivery to human tissue. Additionally, antimicrobial assays suggested a synergistic effect between Cs-SH and encapsulated curcumin, exhibiting antibacterial activity against S. aureus and E. coli. In this research, the bioavailability of curcumin was increased by encapsulating it in Cur-Cs-SH nanoparticles, which enhanced its antimicrobial properties and improved the adhesion of BC membranes, thereby expanding their applications in biomedicine.