Biotechnological Utilization of Amazonian Fruit: Development of Active Nanocomposites from Bacterial Cellulose and Silver Nanoparticles Based on (Tucumã) Extract.

The rise of bacterial resistance and the search for alternative, biocompatible antimicrobial materials have driven interest in natural-based nanocomposites. In this context, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have shown broad-spectrum antibacterial activity, and bacterial cellulose (BC) is widely recognized for its high purity, hydrophilicity, and biocompatibility. This study aimed to develop a bio-based BC-AgNP nanocomposite via green synthesis using (tucumã) extract and assess its antimicrobial performance for wound dressing applications. BC was biosynthesized via green tea fermentation (20 g/L tea and 100 g/L sugar) and purified prior to use. AgNPs were obtained by reacting aqueous tucumã extract with silver nitrate (0.1 mmol/L) at pH (9) and temperature (40 °C). BC membranes were immersed in the AgNPs dispersion for 7 days to form the nanocomposite. Characterization was performed using UV-Vis, DLS, TEM, SEM-EDS, FTIR, XRD, ICP-OES, and swelling analysis. Antibacterial activity was evaluated using the disk diffusion method against and (ATCC 6538 and 4388). The UV-Vis spectra revealed a gradual decrease in the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) band over 7 days of incubation with BC, indicating progressive incorporation of AgNPs into the membrane. ICP analysis confirmed silver incorporation in the BC membrane at 0.00215 mg/mL, corresponding to 15.5% of the initial silver content. Antimicrobial assays showed inhibition zones of 6.5 ± 0.5 mm for and 4.3 ± 0.3 mm for . These findings validate the successful formation and antimicrobial performance of the BC-AgNP nanocomposite, supporting its potential use in wound care applications.