Production and characterization of encapsulated Thymoquinone loaded bacterial cellulose/chitosan composite nano film and investigation of its in vitro antibacterial activity

Aytul Bayraktar ^a,* , Tuba Tunç ^b

^a Department of Chemical/Bioengineering, Suleyman Demirel University, Isparta 32260, Turkey

^b Department of Bioengineering, Suleyman Demirel University, Isparta 32260, Turkey

In this study, nanostructured thin films were produced from thymoquinone (TQ)-loaded composites encapsulated with different ratios of bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) to chitosan (CS). The study aimed to investigate their characterization, antibacterial effects, and potential as drug film coating materials. Chemical features and morphological characteristics were determined, and release tests and antibacterial assays were conducted on the thin film layers. As a result, BNC/CS-thymoquinone composite films obtained at different ratios were found to exhibit the highest antibacterial effect, particularly films with a 70% BNC/CS to 30% thymoquinone ratio, against Salmonella typhimurium bacteria.