Development of cellulose-based films containing salicylic acid for wound dressing applications: Fabrication, properties and in vitro assessment.

This article investigates the viability of 2-hydroxyethyl cellulose (2HEC), an etherified cellulose derivative, combined with salicylic acid (SA) as a single-layer wound dressing material. Films with varying SA compositions (5–40 wt.%) were prepared and evaluated for antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, degradability, mechanical properties, and structural characteristics using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Results showed that films with more than 25 wt.% SA exhibited antimicrobial effects, with the highest inhibition zone at 40 wt.% SA, but also demonstrated reduced tensile strength and slower biodegradability due to increased crystallinity. The study concludes that while 2HEC-SA films have promising antibacterial properties for wound dressing applications, further work is needed to enhance their mechanical performance and SA solubility.