Construction, Characterization, and Sustained‐Release Performance of Regenerated Bacterial Cellulose/Tetracycline Hydrochloride Antibacterial Dressings

ABSTRACT Bacterial cellulose (BC) is a natural biomaterial with excellent biocompatibility and mechanical properties, but lacks intrinsic antimicrobial activity. Thus, preparing antimicrobial dressings by loading drugs onto BC has become a key research focus. This study utilized the novel high‐yield BC strain Komagataeibacter rhaeticus (BKR10) as the raw material and employed a LiCl/DMAC dissolution‐regeneration process to prepare a regenerated bacterial cellulose (RBC 1 –RBC 5 ) antibacterial composite membrane for sustained‐release tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH). Systematic characterization of structure, thermal, mechanical, water absorption, drug release, and antibacterial properties was conducted. Results showed Regenerated bacterial cellulose composite membrane had a three‐dimensional porous network, with crystallinity reduced from 81.72% to 40.09% but elongation at break significantly improved to 106.62%. TCH incorporation enhanced thermal stability and water absorption. In vitro studies revealed sustained TCH release over 48 h, and antibacterial tests showed significant inhibition against Escherichia coli (maximum inhibition zone 25.78 ± 0.35 mm) and Staphylococcus aureus (14.56 ± 0.24 mm). These findings demonstrate TCH/BC composite membranes are promising for biomedical applications as antimicrobial wound dressings or controlled‐release drug carriers.