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The aims of this work were to evaluate the antibacterial and antiproliferative potential in vitro of the metal complex with 4-aminobenzoic acid (Ag-pABA) and a drug delivery system based on bacterial cellulose (BC-Ag-pABA). The Ag-pABA complex was characterized by elemental analysis, high resolution mass spectrometry and single-crystal X-ray diffraction techniques, which indicated a 1:2 metal/pABA composition plus a nitrate ion coordinated to silver by the oxygen atom, with the coordination formula [Ag (C 7 H 7 NO 2 ) 2 (NO 3 )]. The coordination of pABA to the silver ion occurred by the nitrogen atom. The in vitro antibacterial activity of the complex evaluated by minimum inhibitory concentration assays demonstrated the effective growth inhibitory activity against Gram-positive, Gram-negative biofilm producers and acid-alcohol resistant Bacillus. The antiproliferative activities against a panel of eight tumor cells demonstrated the activity of the complex with a significant selectivity index (SI). The DNA interaction capacity and the Ames Test indicated the absence of mutagenicity. The BC-Ag-pABA composite showed an effective capacity of sustained release of Ag-pABA. The observed results validate further studies on its mechanisms of action and the conditions that mediate the in vivo biological effects using animal models to confirm its safety and effectiveness for treatment of skin and soft tissues infected by bacterial pathogens, urinary tract infections and cancer., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)