Photocatalytic and Photoelectric Properties of Cetyltrimethylammonium Bromide and Cellulose Nanoparticles: Structural Insights and In Vivo Wound Healing Application

Nanoparticles have attracted considerable interest for biomedical and catalytic applications due to their unique functional properties. This study aims to evaluate the structural, optical, photoelectric, photocatalytic, and wound-healing performance of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and cellulose nanoparticles with complementary physicochemical characteristics. The nanoparticles were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and Ultraviolet–Visible (UV–Vis) spectroscopy, while photoelectric properties were assessed through current–voltage (I–V) measurements. Photocatalytic activity was evaluated using methylene blue degradation under solar irradiation, and in vivo wound healing was examined using a rat excisional model over 13 days. Cellulose nanoparticles exhibited nearly double the photocurrent compared to CTAB, indicating enhanced charge transport efficiency. Photocatalytic results showed that cellulose achieved approximately ~70% degradation within 210 s, compared to ~50% for CTAB. In vivo findings revealed that cellulose achieved 82% wound closure, compared with 71% for CTAB, 67% for Betadine, and 35% for untreated controls, accompanied by improved tissue regeneration. Overall, cellulose nanoparticles exhibited better photoelectrochemical, photocatalytic, and wound-healing properties, whereas CTAB provided structural integrity and antimicrobial properties. These materials are therefore promising multifunctional nanomaterials for catalytic and biological applications.