Production and characterization of bacterial cellulose based bio-nonwovens with plant extracts

The aim of this work was to produce bio-nonwoven containing bioactive materials by in situ and ex situ modification of bacterial cellulose (BS) with extracts of medicinal aromatic plants Helichrysum arenarium (L.) Moench. -Thymus sipyleus Boiss. and Mentha pulegium L. from Giresun/Şebinkarahisar region. The study began with the preparation of plant extracts. The prepared plant extracts were characterised using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Production was then carried out at different concentrations with ex situ modification on bacterial cellulose produced using a static culture in a kombucha culture medium. Production studies were then carried out at different concentrations with in situ modification and the study continued at the concentrations at which BS bio-nonwoven surface production was performed. Samples exhibiting the highest antibacterial properties among the produced bio-nonwoven surfaces were then subjected to a freeze-drying process (lyophilisation). Additionally, the bio-nonwoven surfaces produced with ex situ modification were examined to determine the highest antibacterial concentrations, after which plant extracts were applied to a 70–30% Tencel/viscose spunlace nonwoven fabric (62 g/m²) at the same concentrations. In the final stage of the study, antibacterial activity tests and analyses of water retention, swelling ratio and porosity were performed on all produced surfaces. Characterisation studies were carried out on the produced bio-nonwoven surfaces using methods such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The effects of different extract types and concentrations according to application method were compared and evaluated as a result of the study, and advanced bio-nonwoven surfaces with a high antibacterial effect were produced.