Chitosan-Guar Gum Coated SCOBY Bacterial Cellulose As A Potential Material For Sustainable Wound Dressing

Abstract

The prevalence of wounds, antimicrobial resistance, and medical waste calls for development in the field of wound care, including the creation of an eco-friendly dressing which is able to speed up wound healing through moisture retention and antimicrobial activity. This study aims to create a potential wound dressing material containing bacterial cellulose from a kombucha pellicle, coated with chitosan (CH) and guar gum (GG). CH and GG were coated at varying ratios (70:30, 50:50, 30:70) and then tested for chemical composition, mechanical strength, swelling capacity, and antimicrobial activity. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy confirmed successful coating with CH and GG. SC-CH-GG (30:70) showed highest tensile strength. While SC-CH-GG (70:30) showed enhanced swelling capacity (908.26% ± 150.31%) and inhibited Staphylococcus aureus (12.5 mm) making a potential alternative dressing material in the treatment of chronic wounds.