Researchers from Turkey studied the effectiveness of using a material made with hemp cellulose impregnated in an antibiotic to treat infections.
Hemp fibers have antibacterial and antifungal qualities due to their presence of cannabinoids and alkaloids. It appears that these properties can be significantly boosted with an antibiotic.
In the study out of Tarsus University, hemp cellulose was used along with carbonized nanocellulose (CCN) synthesized from industrial hemp fiber and then shrunk to ≈35 nm particles. Cellulose is an organic compound found in plants and its main component.
The antibacterial properties of cellulose were investigated using the antibiotic Ciprofloxacin. Ciprofloxacin treats many different infections. These include those that affect the joints and bones, the respiratory tract, the skin and the urinary system.
After further analysis, it was found that while CCN and pristine-cellulose had significant antibacterial properties (imaged above), adding CIP enhanced their activity.
At 50 mg mL−1 concentrations, the antibiofilm effectiveness for CCN and cellulose were found to be 52.38% and 4.28% respectively. Antibiofilm activity was increased to 86.62% by cellulose+CIP, while CCN+CIP achieved a higher level of 94.74%.
Inhibition of biofilms is essential. Biofilms, which are communities of bacteria encased within a protective layer that they produce themselves and is resistant to antimicrobial treatment, are important.
Researchers conclude:
The findings of this study show that cellulose in various forms combined with antibiotics is a potent and promising antimicrobial agent that could find applications across a wide range of fields, including the biomedical and pharmaceutical industries.
The statement also states:
The biofilm-inhibition properties of CCN+CIP, and cellulose+CIP make them more suitable for use in healthcare. “CCN+CIP is particularly effective as a biofilm inhibitor in the medical and environmental biotechnology field.”
Cellulose has published the study. can be downloaded here.
In a similar vein, recent research suggests that cannabinoids are useful for fighting fungal infections which cause millions to die each year.