PRODUCTION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF BACTERIAL CELLULOSE BIOCOMPOSITES BASED ON THYMUS SIPYLEUS BOISS. EXTRACT

The aim of this study was to improve the antibacterial properties of bacterial cellulose (BC) produced by ex situ modification in Kombucha culture medium. Bioactive methanol extract from the plant Thymus sipyleus Boiss. was added to BC by ex situ modification to obtain a bioactive and cost-effective biocomposite. SEM and FTIR analyses confirmed the nanofibers, porous structure and chemical bonding of the extract with the BC nanofibers and revealed that the biocomposites were successfully produced. A significant decrease in water retention and swelling behavior was observed in the biocomposites. The antibacterial activity of the biocomposites was determined according to the AATC100-2004 method. The bactericidal activities of the biocomposites produced were compared with those of the gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 and the gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli ATCC 25922. Biocomposite T010 (0.10% extract) showed strong antibacterial activity, reducing E. coli by 84.6% and S. aureus by 97.54%. The results of this study show that the T. sipyleus extract can be used as an effective antibacterial agent at appropriate concentrations and that the BC biocomposite produced by ex situ modification has excellent antibacterial properties.