1. Introduction: A kind of nanomaterial 'carefully crafted by microorganisms'

Bacterial Cellulose BC is a type of high ，- purity cellulose directly synthesized Unlike cellulose derived from plants, by Acetobacter genus (such as Komagataeibacter xylinus ) through fermentation. BC skips the long and complex lignification process in nature and achieves highly ordered nanofiber assembly from the level of microbial metabolism. It does not contain lignin, hemicellulose and ash impurities, and its fiber diameter is generally 20-100 nm . It is a typical ' natural nanocellulose ( NFC ) '。

Against the background of surging research fields such as sustainable materials, biomedical materials, flexible electronics, and energy storage, BC is becoming an important basic material for multidisciplinary research due to its precisely controllable microstructure, strength, and biocompatibility.

2. Structure and performance: The nature of material science of BC

1. Nanoscale fiber diameter and three-dimensional network structure

The core feature of bacterial cellulose is its self-assembled three-dimensional nanofiber network ( 3D nanofiber network ) . During the fermentation process, microorganisms continuously extrude cellulose fibrils ( microfibril ) and -form a tight network at the air-liquid interface.

This structure gives BC high performance:

High specific surface area (up to 100 m²/g , depending on drying method)

Controllable pore structure (from 10 nm to tens of microns)

High moisture content (wet moisture content can exceed 98% )

This natural nanonetwork is the basis for the performance of many applications (e.g., drug carriers, electrode scaffolds, tissue engineering scaffolds).

2. Mechanical properties: still strong in wet state

In materials research, cellulose rarely maintains high strength in the wet state, while BC has unique advantages due to the dense cross-linking of nanofibers:

Wet tensile strength can reach 20–30 MPa

Dry tensile strength can reach 200–300 MPa

Yang mode modulus (cellulose chain direction) can approach 78 GPa (depending on drying method)

This strength allows BC to be composited with a variety of inorganic / organic materials, making it an important substrate for research on energy materials and high-performance membrane materials.

3. Biocompatibility and non-immunogenicity

The structure and chemical properties of BC are close to the natural extracellular matrix ( ECM ), and its biocompatibility is excellent:

Does not produce significant hemolytic effect

Good adhesion to fibroblasts and epithelial cells

Does not release toxic small molecules

Therefore, in the research of biomedical materials, such as artificial skin, artificial cartilage, and absorbable membranes .BC occupies an important position

3. Preparation methods and controllability: from fermentation to structural control

1. Static Culture

Characteristics suitable for preparing membrane 。
BC :

Fibers are arranged flat along the interface

Suitable for research related to biomedical materials

Higher porosity and more uniform structure

2. Shaking Culture

Suitable for preparing granular or suspended BC 。
values:

Suitable for powder BC preparation

Commonly used in research on composite materials and adsorbent materials

3. Control fermentation parameters to achieve structural adjustment

In the study, BC structure can be intervened by adjusting conditions:

Carbon source: glucose vs fructose vs glycerol → affects yield and fiber thickness

pH control → affects fiber aggregation state

The amount of dissolved oxygen → determines 3Dthe tightness of the network

The presence of metal ions (such as Mg²⁺ ) can adjust the fiber diameter

The controllability of these variables provides flexible space for material design.

4. Main research directions and applications for university laboratories

1. Biomedical Materials

Tissue engineering scaffold : BC's natural pore structure is close to ECM , and its performance can be improved through freeze-drying / cross-linking / compositing.

Wound dressing research : High water retention and mechanical flexibility make it one of the gold standards in wound healing material research.

Controlled drug release system : Its network structure can adsorb drugs and conduct diffusion control studies.

2. Materials Science and Composite Materials

Conductive composite materials : Composite BC with graphene, CNT , etc. for flexible electronics.

Barrier film research : High-strength aerogel films can be prepared through supercritical drying.

Optical materials : The birefringent properties of BC make it also potentially valuable in photonics research.

3. Energy and energy storage direction

BC is an ideal carbon material precursor:

Preparation of hierarchically structured carbon aerogels

Research on electrode materials for supercapacitors

As a lithium battery separator material (because of its high mechanical strength and microporous structure)

4. Environmental science and adsorbent materials

Functionalized BC can adsorb dyes, heavy metals, and nanoparticles, and is a common system for environmentally friendly materials research.

5. Biological and Food Engineering

Fermentation kinetics model study

Edible film, food structure modification

Microbial materials teaching experiment

5. BC’s secondary processing and experimental operability

1. The drying method determines the macroscopic properties of the material

Common drying methods include:

Natural drying (air drying) : obtain a dense film

Freeze-drying : forms a porous sponge-like structure

Supercritical CO₂ Drying : Preparation of Nanoscale High Specific Surface Area Aerogels

Different drying methods correspond to different scientific research purposes.

2. Common modification directions

Chemical modifications commonly used in scientific research experiments include:

TEMPO oxidation

carboxymethylation

Phosphorylation

Surface graft polymerization (such as PVA 、PEG )

Inorganic nanoparticle composite ( TiO₂Ag 、, etc.)

These methods can significantly change its hydrophobicity, conductivity, mechanical properties and adsorption properties.

6. Scientific research-grade bacterial cellulose products and support services we provide (can be rewritten according to company conditions)

We provide universities and scientific research institutions with:

High purity membrane BC (customizable thickness 0.1–20 mm )

Lyophilized BC sponge / aerogel

BC powder

Customized functionalized BC (oxidized type, carboxylated type, etc.)

Complete characterization data: SEM 、FTIR 、XRD 、TGA , mechanical properties, moisture content, etc.

Experimental support: Provide processing suggestions, composite routes, drying process matching suggestions, etc.

Provide scientific researchers with a material basis of high repeatability and stability.

7. Conclusion: The bridge connecting microorganisms and advanced materials science

Bacterial cellulose is an ideal material for interdisciplinary research. It combines the gentleness of life sciences with the high performance of materials science, and can be used for both basic teaching and cutting-edge research. From biomedical materials to new energy, from degradable environmentally friendly materials to flexible electronics, it presents a broad boundary of biomanufacturing materials.

We will continue to provide reliable BC raw materials and technical support to university scientific research teams, help researchers enter the critical stage of experiments faster, and promote the realization of more innovative results.