Radiation processing of bacterial cellulose-monolaurin wound dressing: Physicochemical effects, functional analysis, and sterilization.

A commercial bacterial cellulose-monolaurin wound dressing was investigated for changes in the chemical structure, mechanical strength, thermal degradation, morphology, and functional swelling properties after exposure to gamma and electron beam radiations at doses 15-50 kGy. Radiation-induced oxidation occurred as seen in the FT-IR peaks at 1720-1750 cm. Degradation of the cellulosic network was observed in tensile strength reduction and shift in degradation temperature to lower values.