Antibiotic binding to nanocellulose structures produced from hemp (Cannabis sativa) and investigation of their antibacterial properties

In this master's thesis study, the production of nanocellulose from hemp (Cannabis sativa) and its antibacterial effect with ciprofloxacin were investigated. Cellulose is a material with important properties such as biodegradability and biocompatibility. These properties make cellulose suitable for use as a natural reinforcement material in composites. In this study, firstly, pure cellulose with a diameter of about 4.5 μm was obtained from hemp fiber and then this cellulose was processed into nanocellulose (CNC) with a diameter of 34.7 nm by acid hydrolysis and carbonization processes. Ciprofloxacin (CIP) antibiotic was loaded to both cellulose and CNC to increase the antibacterial properties of these materials. Optimum loading conditions were determined and it was observed that CIP successfully bound to both cellulose and CNC surfaces. The antibacterial and antibiofilm activities of the obtained composites (C+CIP and CNC+CIP) were evaluated against different bacterial species. The results showed that CNC has higher antibacterial and antibiofilm activity, especially in combination with CIP. These findings suggest that cellulose and CNC derived from hemp fiber may be a potential solution to combat the problem of antibiotic resistance and may also inspire the development of next generation antibiotic carrier systems in pharmaceutical and medical fields.