NOVEL COMPOSITE OF SILVER-BACTERIAL CELLULOSE (Ag-BC) FROM SIWALAN SAP (Borassus flabellifer) AND ITS ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY

Recently, a wound healing from natural composite with excellent properties is in a high demand. In this study, a novel composite of bacterial cellulose made from Siwalan sap (Borassus flabellifer) was achieved. Siwalan is a common plant in Java Island of Indonesia and the application is very limited for beverage only. This study aims to determine the effect of the AgNO3/NaBH4 concentration ratio in the development of Ag-BC composites and its antibacterial properties from Siwalan sap. Ag-BC composites were prepared by impregnating the silver solution into the BC matrix through the reduction process with NaBH4. Characterization of Ag-BC composites conducted using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX). Antibacterial assay was performed using disc diffusion method against Salmonella typhimurium (Gram-negative) and Staphylococcus aureus (Gram-positive) bacteria. The characterization of Ag-BC composite shows the nanostructure of BC with a length of fiber around 35-60 nm in width. The SEM-EDX micrograph showed that silver particles were impregnated into the BC matrix. Antibacterial activity test results showed that the Ag-BC composite had the ability to inhibit the bacteria S. typhimurium and S. aureus with good inhibition. This result showed the potential application of Ag-BC composite from Siwalan plant as a natural material for medical and pharmaceutical purpose, especially as an antibacterial agent.