1. Preface

As the global demand for sustainable materials and green manufacturing technologies continues to grow, traditional petrochemical-based materials are facing the challenge of upgrading. In recent years, bacterial cellulose ( BC ), as a high-purity nanoscale polysaccharide material self-synthesized by microorganisms , has become a research hotspot in the field of polymer materials science and biomanufacturing due to its excellent structural controllability, biocompatibility and degradability.

Nanjing Tianlu Nanotechnology Co., Ltd. has long been focusing on the research, development and application of nanocellulose, bacterial cellulose and their composite materials. Relying on a sophisticated biological fermentation platform and material characterization system, the company has established a full-chain R&D system from laboratory research to pilot scale-up, and is committed to promoting the industrial application of bacterial cellulose in the fields of medical care, flexible electronics, packaging and functional film materials.

2. Scientific characteristics at the molecular and structural levels

Bacterial cellulose is composed of β-1,4- glucose units and is a linear homogeneous polysaccharide . Its synthesis is catalyzed by the cellulose synthase complex on the cell membrane, and the generated molecular chains self-assemble outside the cell to form nanoscale fiber bundles ( 20–100 nm ) , which are further cross-linked to form a three-dimensional porous network.

Compared with plant cellulose, bacterial cellulose has the following significant differences:

Performance metrics	plant cellulose	Bacterial cellulose
purity	Contains lignin, hemicellulose	High purity, almost no impurities
Crystallization degree	40–60%	70–90%
Fiber diameter	100–500 nm	20–100 nm
Biocompatibility	generally	Excellent
Specific surface area	medium	Extremely high
Processability	Requires chemical treatment	Structure formation can be controlled in situ

This highly crystallized and nanoscale network enables bacterial cellulose to simultaneously possess high mechanical strength ( >200 MPa ), 、high water absorption (can absorb hundreds of times its own weight in water), 、high thermal stability (thermal decomposition temperature >300°C ), and excellent breathability and transparency.

3. Advanced preparation technology and process control

1. Biosynthetic pathways

In a fermentation system using glucose as a carbon source, microorganisms generate linear cellulose chains through the UDP- glucose synthesis pathway and are excreted out of the cell through the cellulose synthase complex. Chain molecules self-assemble into fibrous crystal regions at the interface, thereby forming a film layer with an anisotropic structure.

2. Nanjing Tianlu Nano’s process innovation

Nanjing Tianlu Nanotechnology Co., Ltd. has developed a high-throughput gas-liquid interface reaction system based on traditional static fermentation, combined with fluid mechanics and metabolic engineering technology, which can significantly increase productivity while ensuring structural integrity.

Bioreactor design optimization : through zoned oxygen supply and dynamic stirring control, fiber breakage is reduced and crystal orientation is improved.

Dynamic nutrient supply strategy : Using carbon source pulse feeding and nitrogen source control technology, the microorganisms are in a state of efficient fiber production.

In-situ structural control : Utilizing pH microenvironment and dissolved oxygen gradient to achieve customized production of BC (membrane, ball, fiber) in different forms.

In addition, the company has established a BC post-processing process platform , using mild alkali washing + solvent replacement process to effectively remove residual proteins and metabolic by-products to ensure product purity and structural integrity.

4. Characterization and performance analysis system

In the study of the material properties of bacterial cellulose, Nanjing Tianlu Nano introduced multi-dimensional physical and chemical characterization technology:

Microstructure analysis : Observe fiber orientation and network distribution through 、SEM AFM ;

Crystal form identification : Use XRD to determine the Iα/Iβ ratio and crystallinity;

Chemical structure verification : FTIR and 13C-NMR are used to confirm the structural integrity of β-1,4 glycosidic bonds;

Mechanical and thermal performance testing : DMA and TGA are used to evaluate the stress response and thermal stability of membrane materials;

Biocompatibility and cell adhesion experiments : verify the safety and application feasibility of medical grade BC .

These systematic tests provide the company with solid data support in the quality control, performance evaluation and downstream composite material design of BC products.

5. High-end application fields of bacterial cellulose

1. Medical and tissue engineering

BC 's high moisturizing properties, breathability and biocompatibility make it an ideal wound dressing and artificial skin material. Tianlu Nano developed an antibacterial medical BC composite film by introducing chitosan and silver nanoparticles into BC , which showed excellent anti-infection performance and tissue repair promotion ability in experiments.

2. Flexible electronics and functional film materials

BC has high transparency and stretchability, and can be used as a flexible display substrate material or conductive composite film carrier. The developed by Tianlu Nano conductive BC- graphene composite film achieves good electrical conductivity and thermal stability while maintaining high light transmittance, and has the potential for flexible sensors and green electronic devices.

3. Food and green packaging

As a natural dietary fiber and stabilizer, BC can improve food structure and enhance taste; at the same time, its degradability makes it an important candidate as an alternative material for plastic packaging. Through surface modification and cross-linking strengthening, Tianlu Nano has achieved pilot production of high-strength degradable packaging films .

6. Future Direction and Technology Outlook

The future development direction of bacterial cellulose will focus on the deep integration of synthetic biology and materials engineering. 。
Nanjing Tianlu Nanotechnology Co., Ltd. is actively laying out the following innovation directions:

Gene editing strain construction : Optimizing synthetic enzyme expression and production pathways through CRISPR-Cas technology;

Continuous fermentation system : using membrane reactors to achieve continuous fiber production and online collection;

Development of multifunctional composite materials : Composite with graphene, nanocellulose, chitosan, etc. to expand its conductive, antibacterial, and intelligent response properties;

Sustainable manufacturing and carbon neutral assessment : Build a green full life cycle management system to achieve zero-pollution production ' from microorganisms to materials ' .

7. Conclusion

Bacterial cellulose is not only a renewable resource given to mankind by nature, but also an important bridge to future smart materials and green manufacturing. Through continuous and in-depth research on its structure, properties and applications, bacterial cellulose is moving from the laboratory to the core stage of industrialization.

Nanjing Tianlu Nanotechnology Co., Ltd. will continue to adhere to the concept of ' technological innovation, green future ' , promote technological breakthroughs and industrial implementation of bacterial cellulose material systems, and contribute China's strength to the global high-performance biomaterials industry.