title: An investigation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm growth on novel nanocellulose fibre dressings.
abstract: Nanocellulose from wood is a novel biomaterial, which is highly fibrillated at the nanoscale. This affords the material a number of advantages, including self-assembly, biodegradability and the ability to absorb and retain moisture, which highlights its potential usefulness in clinical wound-dressing applications. In these in vitro studies, the wound pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 was used to assess the ability of two nanocellulose materials to impair bacterial growth (<48 h). The two nanocelluloses had a relatively small fraction of residual fibres (<4%) and thus a large fraction of nanofibrils (widths <20 nm). Scanning electron microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy imaging demonstrated impaired biofilm growth on the nanocellulose films and increased cell death when compared to a commercial control wound dressing, Aquacel(®). Nanocellulose suspensions inhibited bacterial growth, whilst UV-vis spectrophotometry and laser profilometry also revealed the ability of nanocellulose to form smooth, translucent films. Atomic force microscopy studies of the surface properties of nanocellulose demonstrated that PAO1 exhibited markedly contrasting morphology when grown on the nanocellulose film surfaces compared to an Aquacel(®) control dressing (p<0.05). This study highlights the potential utility of these biodegradable materials, from a renewable source, for wound dressing applications in the prevention and treatment of biofilm development.
authors.affiliation: Advanced Therapies Group, College of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Cardiff University School of Dentistry, Cardiff CF14 4XY, UK; Centre for NanoHealth, Systems and Process Engineering Centre, College of Engineering, Swansea University, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK.
authors.forename: Lydia C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Powell
authors.affiliation: Advanced Therapies Group, College of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Cardiff University School of Dentistry, Cardiff CF14 4XY, UK.
authors.forename: Saira
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Paper and Fibre Research Institute (PFI), NO-7491 Trondheim, Norway. Electronic address: gary.chinga.carrasco@pfi.no.
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chinga-Carrasco
authors.affiliation: Centre for NanoHealth, Systems and Process Engineering Centre, College of Engineering, Swansea University, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK.
authors.forename: Chris J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.affiliation: Advanced Therapies Group, College of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Cardiff University School of Dentistry, Cardiff CF14 4XY, UK.
authors.forename: Katja E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.affiliation: Advanced Therapies Group, College of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Cardiff University School of Dentistry, Cardiff CF14 4XY, UK.
authors.forename: David W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Thomas
mesh_terms: D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development*; D002482:Cellulose / Q000737:chemistry*; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000254:growth & development*
chemical_list: D002482:Cellulose
keywords: Atomic force microscopy; Biofilm; Characterisation; Nanocellulose; Pseudomonas aeruginosa