Functionalization of composite bacterial cellulose with C(60) nanoparticles for wound dressing and cancer therapy

A series of novel bacterial cellulose/C(60) (BCC(60)) composites was prepared using a original dehydration-rehydration method. The composites were characterized to demonstrate their potential in multifunctional wound dressings for skin cancer treatment using photodynamic therapy. Raman spectroscopy revealed that the C(60) nanoparticles were successfully incorporated into the bacterial cellulose (BC) network. Scanning electron microscopy was used to examine the morphology and distribution of the C(60) particles as photosensitizers in the bacterial cellulose network, and the C(60) particles were uniformly distributed in the hyperfine three-dimensional BC network with diameters less than 100 nm. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) measurements indicated that the BCC(60) composites possessed a high ROS generation ability when exposed to light. The antibacterial assessment of the BCC(60) composites revealed their ability to inhibit the growth of E. coli and S. aureus and their relationship with light irradiation. In vitro cell experiments also confirmed that the BCC(60) composites had low cytotoxicity in the dark, while they exhibited significant cancer cell damage activity under visible light.