Aquatic environments face contamination by pharmaceuticals, prompting concerns due to their toxicity even at low concentrations. To combat this, we developed an ecologically sustainable biosurfactant derived from a microorganism and integrated it into bacterial cellulose (BC). This study aimed to evaluate BC’s efficacy, with and without the biosurfactant, as a sorbent for paracetamol and 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2) in water. We cultivated BC membranes using Gluconacetobacter xylinus ATCC 53582 and synthesized the biosurfactant through pre-inoculation of Bacillus subtilis in a synthetic medium. Subsequently, BC membranes were immersed in the biosurfactant solution for incorporation. Experiments were conducted using contaminated water, analyzing paracetamol concentrations via spectrophotometry and EE2 levels through high-performance liquid chromatography. Results indicated BC’s superior adsorption for EE2 over paracetamol. Incorporating the biosurfactant reduced hormone adsorption but enhanced paracetamol sorption. Notably, original and freeze-dried BC exhibited better adsorption efficacy than biosurfactant-infused BC. In conclusion, BC showed promise in mitigating EE2 contamination, suggesting its potential for environmental remediation. Future research could focus on optimizing biosurfactant concentrations to enhance sorption capabilities without compromising BC’s inherent effectiveness.

Bacterial cellulose (BC) has been used for various applications; however, studies investigating the immunohistochemical characteristics of the inflammatory and scarring component in BC implanted in the peritoneum in vivo have not yet been fully described. This study aimed to evaluate the systemic and organic safety of BC through oxidative stress, blood, and serum biochemical markers, as well as the late inflammatory response in rats, using histopathology and immunohistochemistry. Forty-three rats (26 males; 17 females) received BC in the peritoneal cavity (implanted group—IG), while twenty-seven rats (12 males; 15 females) served as the control (sham group—SG). Sixty days after surgery, oxidative stress in tissues, blood biochemical markers, and histopathological and immunohistochemical analyses for lymphocytes, macrophages, collagen, and vascular response around the BC were assessed. Only one oxidative stress marker, glutathione peroxidase, was elevated in the liver of IG rats. Creatine kinase MB and lactate dehydrogenase levels were significantly lower in IG animals. Histopathological analysis showed granulomatous inflammation in 93% of IG rats, with 74% of mild intensity. Immunohistochemistry revealed a significant macrophage presence (F4/80), with CD3, CD20, and F4/80 markers indicating differences favoring macrophages. In conclusion, BC implantation in the peritoneum induces a foreign body granulomatous response with prominent macrophage presence (F4/80). Type I and III collagen were observed around the membrane, and vascularization was intense 60 days post-implantation. From a biochemical and oxidative stress perspective, BC seems to be a safe material to be used in the peritoneal cavity.

The growing threat of antimicrobial resistance drives the need for innovative and multifunctional therapeutic systems. In this study, a controlled-release system based on a bioactive film composed of gelatin, bacterial cellulose (BC), sericin, citric acid, PEG 400, and nisin was developed for topical applications in infected wound treatment. BC membranes were produced using Komagataeibacter xylinus and enzymatically treated to optimize dispersion within the polymer matrix. The resulting system exhibited a semi-rigid, homogeneous morphology with appropriate visual characteristics for dermatological use. Microbiological assays demonstrated significant antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and resistant Gram-negative strains (Escherichia coli and Enterobacter cloacae), attributed to the synergistic action of nisin and citric acid, which enhanced bacterial outer membrane permeability. The antioxidant capacity was confirmed through DPPH radical scavenging assays, indicating a progressive release of bioactive compounds over time. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses revealed good integration of biopolymers within the matrix. These results suggest that the strategic combination of natural biopolymers and antimicrobial agents produced a functional system with improved mechanical properties, a broadened antimicrobial spectrum, and promising potential as a bioactive wound dressing for the treatment of infected skin lesions.

Os fungos medicinais, particularmente o Shiitake (L. edodes), têm sido altamente considerados nas tradições orientais devido aos seus efeitos vantajosos no tratamento de diversos problemas de saúde. O objetivo geral desse projeto foi avaliar a extração de β glucanas do L. Edodes por sistema bifásico. Os cogumelos frescos foram cortados em cubos e processados com um moinho de facas e martelos, e depois moídos finamente em seguida o material resultante foi colocado em um percolador com etanol 70% e concentrado em rotaevaporador. Posteriormente, foi ainda concentrado e liofilizado. Várias concentrações de PEG 600 (50%) e Na2SO4 (20%) foram utilizadas para criar sistemas, visando investigar configurações bifásicas e não bifásicas. Optou-se por sistemas bifásicos para extração de β-glucanas e remoção de proteínas de L. edodes (ambos liofilizados e em sua solução 20 mg/mL). As fases separadas foram coletadas e analisadas quanto aos níveis de proteína total e β-glucana. Os resultados demonstraram, que foi possível a remoção de proteínas totais e extração de β glucanas. Nossos resultados indicam que o sistema B foi o mais eficaz na remoção de proteínas e extração bem-sucedida das β-glucanas por meio da técnica de extração líquido-líquido. O uso de um sistema aquoso bifásico mostrou-se uma alternativa promissora para a extração de compostos ativos de cogumelos.

The contamination of aquatic environments by pharmaceutical products consistently takes the attention of researchers due to the compounds' toxicity even at low concentrations. In response, we have developed an ecologically sustainable biosurfactant derived from a microorganism and incorporated into the bacterial cellulose. This bioproduct, along with the bacterial cellulose itself, was employed as a sorbent for pharmaceuticals (hormones and paracetamol) present in water. Bacterial cellulose membranes were generated through the cultivation of Gluconacetobacter xylinus ATCC 53582. The biosurfactant was produced by pre-inoculating Bacillus subtilis in a synthetic medium, followed by immersing the bacterial cellulose membranes in the biosurfactant solution, for incorporation. Tests were conducted using water experimentally contaminated with parace-tamol and 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2), evaluating the biosurfactant's effect on bacterial cellulose sorption. Paracetamol levels were analyzed using spectrophotometry, and EE2 levels were as-sessed using high-performance liquid chromatography. In summary, bacterial cellulose exhibited superior adsorption for EE2 compared to paracetamol. The incorporation of biosurfactant onto bacterial cellulose reduced hormone adsorption but enhanced paracetamol sorption. Our findings indicated that adsorption is more effective with bacterial cellulose in its original and freeze-dried forms, without the incorporation of biosurfactant. Notably, we achieved more promising results in remediating the hormone EE2 compared to the paracetamol.