Synthesis of cationic bacterial cellulose using a templated metal phenolic network for antibacterial applications

Bacterial cellulose (BC) has been an attractive bio-based material for biomedical applications due to its biocompatibility, non-toxicity, ultrafine nanofibril network, robust mechanical properties, and high water-holding capacity. However, native BC does not possess antimicrobial properties to prevent infection that significantly limit its biomedical applications. In the present study, we have demonstrated an easy-to-functionalize biohybrid system consisting of BC and metal-phenolic network (MPN). Specifically, plant-derived tannic acid (TA) and various metal ions were complexed and embedded into a highly intertwined BC nanofibrillar network followed by cationic functionalization to confer antimicrobial properties. The existence of MPN was successfully observed by scanning electron microscope, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT–IR) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Because of the synergetic antibacterial effect of TA and quaternary ammonium salts, the cationic BC@MPN composites showed good inhibitory effects on the growth of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. This biohybrid antimicrobial BC/MPN material may have many potential applications in the food packaging and biomedical industries. Graphic abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.]