Application and development trend of bacterial cellulose in the medical field

Bacterial Cellulose ( BC ) is a natural nanocellulose material secreted by Unlike plant cellulose, bacterial cellulose has Acetobacter xylinum and other acetate . ultra-high purity (free of lignin and hemicellulose), unique three-dimensional nano-network structure, excellent mechanical properties and good biocompatibility . These characteristics make it have extremely high application potential in the medical and health field.

As an early domestic enterprise focusing on the research and development and production of nanocellulose, Nanjing Tianlu Nano Technology Co., Ltd. has long been committed to the process optimization, product application development and industrialization of bacterial cellulose. Through the improvement of fermentation process and the upgrading of post-treatment technology, the company has been able to stably provide high-purity, controllable performance bacterial cellulose raw materials and customized solutions, which are widely used in medical, food, composite materials and other fields.

1. The core physical and chemical characteristics of bacterial cellulose

Nanoscale fiber structure : diameter is about 20–100 nm and specific surface area is as high as 200–300 m²/g , providing good support for cell attachment and tissue growth.

High moisture content : The moisture content can reach more than 90% in wet state , with good moisturizing properties and liquid absorption capacity.

Excellent mechanical properties : Tensile strength up to 200–300 MPa , maintaining a stable structure even in wet environments.

Biocompatibility : It does not trigger obvious immune rejection, suitable for direct contact with the skin or implantation into the body.

Controllability : Through chemical modification (carboxylation, graft polymerization, etc.) or composite (combined with chitosan and silver nanoparticles), antibacterial properties, mechanical properties and degradation rate can be further improved.

These unique properties make the application advantages of bacterial cellulose in the medical field significantly better than traditional polymer materials. Nanjing Tianlu Nano Technology Co., Ltd. has conducted serial research on these characteristics and formed a product line with independent advantages.

2. Application scenarios of bacterial cellulose in the medical field

1. Trauma Repair and Medical Dressings

Bacterial cellulose film can maintain a slightly wet environment in the wound, promote the generation of granulation tissue, and absorb excess exudate, reducing the risk of infection.

Clinical case : In burn treatment, BC dressing significantly shortens the healing cycle and reduces the pain of the patient by more than 30% .

Industrial Practice : Nanjing Tianlu Nano Technology Co., Ltd. cooperates with several medical material companies to promote the development and application of bacterial cellulose medical dressings.

2. Artificial blood vessels and vascular grafts

The three-dimensional structure and flexibility of bacterial cellulose enable it to simulate natural blood vessel walls.

Animal experiments show that BC artificial blood vessels have good antithrombotic properties and patency rate.

Nanjing Tianlu Nano Technology Co., Ltd. has laid out research on the application of BC in artificial vascular substrates.

3. Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine

Bacterial cellulose is often used as scaffolding material for cartilage repair, bone repair and skin regeneration.

Cause : The porosity and adjustable structure of BC are conducive to cell migration and nutrient exchange.

The company's R&D team is exploring the possibility of combining BC scaffold materials with stem cells and 3D printing technology.

4. Drug carrier and sustained release system

Bacterial cellulose can be loaded with antibiotics and anti-tumor drugs, and achieve sustained release through network structure.

The drug release cycle can be extended from several hours to several days.

Nanjing Tianlu Nano Technology Co., Ltd. has conducted experimental verification on the BC drug sustained release platform and has transformation prospects.

5. Ophthalmic applications and contact lenses

The transparency and moisturizing properties of bacterial cellulose make it a candidate material for the next generation of contact lenses and corneal repair membranes.

Experimental data : The light transmittance of BC hydrogel lens exceeds 95%。

3. Industry application comparison table

Application direction	Main performance requirements	BC Material Advantages	Commercialization progress
Trauma dressing	Highly absorbent, antibacterial and breathable	Water content >90%, good humid and healing environment	Already available products
Artificial blood vessels	Mechanical strength, anti-thrombosis	Good flexibility and better biocompatibility than PTFE	In clinical experiments
Tissue engineering scaffold	Three-dimensional pores, degradability	Easy to cell adhesion and proliferation	Experimental research stage
Drug sustained release system	Controlled release, long-term and stable	Loadable drugs, prolong release cycle	Under development
Ophthalmology applications	High transparency, moisturizing	High light transmittance and comfortable to wear	Experimental research

4. Market prospects and development trends

Global market demand : It is expected that by 2030 year, the market size of bacterial cellulose in the medical and health field will exceed 15 US$100 million , of which trauma dressings and tissue engineering applications account for more than 60%。

R&D direction : In the future, BC will combine with nanosilver, antibacterial peptides, and conductive polymers to develop multifunctional intelligent medical materials.

Industrialization Challenge : The cost is high at present, but with the advancement of fermentation process optimization and large-scale production , the cost is expected to drop 5 by 30–40% within the year .。

V. Conclusion

With its unique physical and chemical properties, With the continuous development of medical devices, regenerative medicine and drug delivery, its industrial prospects are broad.bacterial cellulose is becoming an important choice for the new generation of medical materials.

As an active force in the industry, Nanjing Tianlu Nano Technology Co., Ltd. will continue to deepen its efforts in the field of bacterial cellulose, promote the transformation from basic research to clinical applications, and provide high-performance sustainable material solutions to the global medical and health industry.