Mupirocin-Doped α-Cellulose Nanopaper for Wound Dressing: Development, In Vitro Characterization and Antimicrobial Studies

This research aimed to develop a mupirocin-doped α-cellulose nanopaper (MDAC-NP) as a wound dressing to accelerate wound healing while limiting localized bacterial growth. The α-cellulose nanofibrils suspension was prepared by ultrasonication followed by microfluidization and subsequently doped with 0.05% w/v mupirocin to prepare nanopaper (MDAC-NP-A). The optimized batch of MDAC-NP had a porosity of 47.46 ± 0.60%, a thickness of 30 μm and a tensile strength of 0.113 MPa. The transmission electron microscopy images revealed long, slender, intertwined nanofibrillar structures and the scanning electron microscopy confirmed stable lamellar structures with tight nanofibrillar networks, giving them translucency. MDAC-NP-A had an excellent water vapor transmission rate of 2963 ± 10.26 g/m²/day, providing an optimal moist environment locally to promote wound healing. The mupirocin inclusion in the nanopapers was corroborated by the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and its crystallinity by X-ray diffraction, and differential scanning calorimetry results. The 100% drug release, was observed at 12 h from optimized MDAC-NP-A with a controlled release pattern. The MDAC-NP showed better antimicrobial activity, against S. aureus (41 mm) than E. coli (25 mm) and P. aeruginosa (17 mm) and was found to be better than marketed ointment. Thus, mupirocin-doped α-cellulose nanopapers emerge as a potential wound dressing for treating primary and secondary skin infections caused by external wounds.