Fabrication of bacterial cellulose-ZnO composite via solution plasma process for antibacterial applications

Abstract

Zinc oxide (ZnO) was successfully synthesized by applying a solution plasma, a plasma discharge in a liquid phase, without the addition of a reducing agent and simultaneously deposited into a bacterial cellulose pellicle that functioned as a template. By the reasons of its nano-sized structure as well as favorable porous configuration, the BC pellicle has been proved to be a splendid upholding template for the coordination of ZnO. In addition, the ZnO-deposited BC composites demonstrated strong antibacterial activity without a photocatalytic reaction against both Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Hence, the ZnO-deposited BC composites can be used as an antibacterial material in wound dressing and water disinfection applications.

Keywords: Antibacterial activity; Bacterial cellulose; Composite; Solution plasma process; Zinc oxide.