In situ Synthesis of Bacterial Cellulose/Chitosan Hydrogels Crosslinked with Genipin; Swelling, Drug Release Behavior and Antibacterial Evaluation

Bacterial cellulose (BC)/chitosan (Chs) hydrogel was synthesised in situ by adding chitosan to the Acetobacter xylinum culture. The synthesized BC-Chs was immersed in genipin (Gp) to yield crosslinked membrane, BC-Chs-Gp. The emergence of the amide I and II bands due to N-H stretching in the FTIR spectra of BC-Chs hydrogels confirmed the incorporation of chitosan into the BC network. The internal morphology studied by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) revealed BC-Chs-Gp had a more compact fibril network compared to BC-Chs and BC. The tensile strength of BC-Chs and BC-Chs-Gp were lower than their Young's modulus. Crosslinked BC-Chs showed the lowest swelling in water and moisture content compared to BC-Chs. In vitro drug release studies of quetiapine fumarate over 24 h followed the Korsmeyer-Peppas model. Antibacterial evaluation showed BC-Chs and BC-Chs-Gp were active against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus.