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Graphene oxide (GO) is a potential material for wound dressing due to its excellent biocompatibility and mechanical properties. This study evaluated the effects of GO concentration on the synthesis of bacterial nanocellulose (BNC)-grafted poly(acrylic acid) (AA)-graphene oxide (BNC/P (AA)/GO) composite hydrogel and its potential as wound dressing. Hydrogels were successfully synthesized via electron-beam irradiation. The hydrogels were characterized by their mechanical properties, bioadhesiveness, water vapor transmission rates (WVTRs), water retention abilities, water absorptivity, and biocompatibility. Fourier transform infrared analysis showed the successful incorporation of GO into hydrogel. Thickness, gel fraction determination and morphological study revealed that increased GO concentration in hydrogels leads to reduced crosslink density and larger pore size, resulting in increased WVTR. Thus, highest swelling ratio was found in hydrogel with higher amount of GO (0.09 wt %). The mechanical properties of the composite hydrogel were maintained, while its hardness and bioadhesion were reduced with higher GO concentration in the hydrogel, affirming the durable and easy removable properties of a wound dressing. Human dermal fibroblast cell attachment and proliferation studies showed that biocompatibility of hydrogel was improved with the inclusion of GO in the hydrogel. Therefore, BNC/P(AA)/GO composite hydrogel has a potential application as perdurable wound dressing.

The development of oral vaccine formulation is crucial to facilitate an effective mass immunization program for various vaccine-preventable diseases. In this work, the efficacy of hepatitis B antigen delivered by bacterial nanocellulose/poly­(acrylic acid) composite hydrogel microparticles (MPs) as oral vaccine carriers was assessed to induce both local and systemic immunity. Optimal pH-responsive swelling, mucoadhesiveness, protein drug loading, and drug permeability were characterized by MPs formulated with minimal irradiation doses and acrylic acid concentration. The composite hydrogel materials of bacterial nanocellulose and poly­(acrylic acid) showed significantly greater antigen release in simulated intestinal fluid while ensuring the integrity of antigen. In in vivo study, mice orally vaccinated with antigen-loaded hydrogel MPs showed enhanced vaccine immunogenicity with significantly higher secretion of mucosal immunoglobulin A, compared to intramuscular vaccinated control. The splenocytes from the same group demonstrated lymphoproliferation and significant increased secretion of interleukin-2 cytokines upon stimulation with hepatitis B antigen. Expression of CD69 in CD4+ T lymphocytes and CD19+ B lymphocytes in splenocytes from mice orally vaccinated with antigen-loaded hydrogel MPs was comparable to that of the intramuscular vaccinated control, indicating early activation of lymphocytes elicited by our oral vaccine formulation in just two doses. These results demonstrated the potential of antigen-loaded hydrogel MPs as an oral vaccination method for hepatitis B.

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