Development and characterization of a sustainable bacterial cellulose/collagen composite membrane for enhanced wound healing and tissue regeneration applications.

This study aimed to develop a bacterial cellulose/collagen composite membrane (BC/COL) for its wound-healing ability using collagen extracted from the scales of golden grouper (Epinephelus coioides), thus providing a sustainable derived source. BC was produced by Acetobacter pasteurianus PV549389 under static fermentation, and culture conditions were optimized using response surface methodology. ANOVA analysis confirmed the significance of the model (F = 5.09, p = 0.044), identifying optimal conditions of 21.3 g/L glucose, 4.9 g/L peptone, and pH 6.7, yielding a maximum BC of 3.99 g/L. The developed BC/COL membrane exhibited a uniform morphology, enhanced thermal stability, and clear functional group interactions, confirming the successful integration of the polymer. The biological performance of BC/COL membrane was evaluated through in vitro scratch assays and in vivo excisional wound-healing studies in rats. The BC/COL membrane exhibited a safe profile toward dermal fibroblasts, significantly enhancing cell migration (91%) and accelerating wound-healing rates (3.03%/h and 1.91%/h after 24 and 48 h, respectively) compared with the control and collagen-treated groups. Histological and histomorphometric analyses revealed enhanced tissue regeneration in BC/COL-treated wounds, characterized by increased epidermal thickness (97.5 μm), elevated collagen deposition (59.4%), improved epidermal organization, and reduced inflammatory cell infiltration compared with the untreated control group. This study shows that BC/COL membrane effectively provides a sustainable and biocompatible wound dressing material, with strong potential for clinical application.