Design and Fabrication of Nanocellulose-Chitosan Composite Hydrogels with Enhanced Mechanical and Antibacterial Properties.

Abstract

Due to its outstanding mechanical properties and biocompatibility, nanocellulose (NCC) has gained significant attention as a promising new material in the biomedical field. In this study, a high-performance nanocellulose-chitosan (NCC-CS) composite hydrogel was prepared, incorporating silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) to enhance its antibacterial functionality. The inclusion of NCC substantially improved the physical and functional properties of the hydrogel, as evidenced by a 64.9% increase in tensile strength, an 83.6% enhancement in swelling ratio, and an approximately 91.1-fold reduction in pore size. Meanwhile, the incorporation of NCC particles also played a pivotal role during material modification: they not only provided additional structural support, resulting in superior mechanical performance of the composite hydrogel, but also ensured a more uniform dispersion within the hydrogel matrix, further improving overall stability and processability. Compared with conventional hydrogels, the NCC-CS hydrogel exhibited accelerated degradation rates and remarkable antibacterial activity. These findings highlight the potential of NCC-CS composite hydrogels as multifunctional biomedical materials for applications such as skin injury repair, burn treatment, and chronic wound healing. Moreover, this study offers valuable insights into the structure-property relationships of nanocellulose composite hydrogels, laying a solid foundation for their broader use in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.