Production and Characterization of Biocellulose and Keratin as a Diabetic Wound Dressing Candidate Combined with Tamanu Oil

Abstract

Skin wound healing is a biological course of events where a series of molecular and cellular events works together to restore the damaged tissue in four phases. Several factors could interfere with the completion of those phases, causing delayed and abnormal wounds which may lead to ulcers. Commonly, the formation of ulcers is associated with type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM) disorder which affects the closure of the wound. Current treatments for diabetic ulcers are available, and one of them is wound dressing. Biocellulose hydrogels derived from gram-negative bacteria such as Komagateibacter intermedius are usually used as they offer protection from foreign particles, are able to maintain a moist wound healing condition, and are biocompatible. Recent studies revealed that biocellulose is often combined with other materials such as keratin and Calophyllum inophyllum (Tamanu) oil to enhance the wound healing process. The purpose of this project is to produce and characterize the keratin extract and biocellulose as well as analyze the antibacterial effect of tamanu oil and human hair keratin. The biocellulose and keratin were extracted from the K. intermedius using MRS broth and human hair keratin using shindai method respectively, followed by the characterization of KBC hydrogels. An antimicrobial assay was performed through the Kirby Bauer method to determine the antibacterial activity of tamanu oil and keratin extract. A zone of inhibition area is observed in both pure green and black tamanu oil against S. aureus but not in P. aeruginosa. KBC exhibits a spectrum that is similar to the combination of the BC and keratin solution peaks in the FT-IR spectra, demonstrating the presence of keratin. The BC showed a high % swelling and low % erosion index while a high concentration of keratin was calculated using BCA assay, indicating the success of BC and keratin extraction.