Development and characterization of bacterial cellulose membrane incorporated with Witch hazel extract

Bacterial cellulose (BC) has stood out in the biomedical field for its biocompatibility, non-toxicity and high liquid absorption capacity. Thus, studies have been conducted aiming at the functionalization of BC with substances that add properties, such as anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial action. Hamamelis virginiana plant extract is known for its astringent, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. Thus, the present work aimed to incorporate aqueous (AE) and glycolic (GE) extracts of witch hazel in different concentrations to BC, aiming at its application as a curative. BC membranes incorporated with the extracts were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and antimicrobial activity. The TGA results indicated a reduction in thermal stability and the appearance of a new stage of degradation in the samples that underwent incorporation. Furthermore, the FTIR showed the presence of aromatic compounds not found in the BC, corroborating the TGA. The micrographs revealed that the incorporation of the extracts resulted in the formation of a film on the surface of the membranes, covering the nanofibers. These results show that incorporating the aqueous and glycol extracts in the BC membrane was successful. However, despite the crude extracts’ antimicrobial potential, antimicrobial activity in the functionalized BC samples was not observed.