Evaluation of Anti-Biofilm and in Vitro Wound Healing Activity of Bacterial Cellulose Loaded with Nanoparticles and Borax

Abstract

Biofilms are a severe problem for public health because of the contributing recurrence of infections. Therefore, combating biofilms is a critical issue. In our study, we loaded zinc oxide (ZnO), zinc oxide borax (ZnOBorax), zinc copper oxide (ZnCuO2) nanoparticles and borax into bacterial cellulose (BC) to impart anti-biofilm and wound healing activity. The prepared BC loaded with nanoparticles (BC-NPs) was analysed via scanning electron microscopy. The nanoparticles' geometric structure and placement in BC fibres were observed. We evaluated the biofilm inhibition and biofilm degradation activities of the BC-NPs against some pathogens via a crystal violet (CV) assay and XTT (2,3-bis(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-2 H-tetrazolium-5-carboxanilide) reduction assay. The effects of BC-NPs on cell proliferation and wound-healing ability were analysed in L929 cell line. BC-NPs exhibited better biofilm degradation activity than biofilm inhibition activity. According to the results of the CV assay, BC-ZnONPs, BC-Borax and BC-ZnOBoraxNPs inhibited 65.53%, 71.74% and 66.60% of biofilm formation of Staphylococcus aureus, respectively. BC-ZnCuO2NPs showed the most degradation activity on Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Listeria innocua biofilms. The XTT reduction assay results indicated a considerable reduction in the metabolic activity of the biofilms. Moreover, compared to the control group, BC loaded with borax and ZnO nanoparticle promoted cell migration without cytotoxicity.