Development of Oxidized Bacterial Cellulose Scaffolds Impregnated With Chitosan and Collagen Peptides for Potential Implant Tissue Engineering Approaches

ABSTRACT Bacterial cellulose (BC) is widely recognized for its high biocompatibility and mechanical integrity, yet its dense fibrous structure and high crystallinity limit its versatility in tissue engineering. In this study, BC was oxidized using hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) to introduce carboxyl groups, forming oxidized bacterial cellulose (OBC) with reduced crystallinity (from 95% to 80% by X‐ray diffraction) and enhanced reactivity. Scanning electron microscopy revealed a transformation from the native fibrous morphology to a highly interconnected 3D porous network. Water retention capacity also improved significantly (swelling degree: 65% in BC vs. 90% in OBC/CS/Col). In vitro cytotoxicity assays using human‐induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells demonstrated over 80% viability for all scaffolds by MTT assay, with the OBC/CS/Col composite supporting up to 104% proliferation relative to controls after 48 hours. These results confirm that the OBC/CS/Col composite scaffold provides a structurally adaptable, biocompatible platform with preserved mechanical performance, making it highly suitable for advanced tissue engineering applications.