Biosynthesis, production and applications of bacterial cellulose

• Published in: Cellulose (London) Vol. 20; no. 5; pp. 2191 - 2219
• Main Authors: Lin, Shin-Ping, Loira Calvar, Iris, Catchmark, Jeffrey M, Liu, Je-Ruei, Demirci, Ali, Cheng, Kuan-Chen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer-Verlag 01.10.2013; Springer Netherlands; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Additives; Bacteria; Bioorganic Chemistry; Biopolymers; Bioreactors; Biosynthesis; Cellulose; Ceramics; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Commercialization; Composites; Contaminants; Design modifications; Design parameters; diet; Fermentation; filtration; foods; Glass; Gluconacetobacter xylinus; hemicellulose; lignin; Material properties; Natural Materials; Organic Chemistry; Pectin; pectins; Physical Chemistry; Physical properties; pollutants; Polymer Sciences; Review Paper; Sustainable Development; Cellulose application; Bacterial cellulose; Cellulose production; Biosynthesis; Cellulose modification
• ISSN: 0969-0239; 1572-882X
• DOI: 10.1007/s10570-013-9994-3

Bacterial cellulose (BC) as a never-dried biopolymer synthesized in abundance by Gluconacetobacter xylinus is in a pure form which requires no intensive processing to remove unwanted impurities and contaminants such as lignin, pectin and hemicellulose. In contrast to plant cellulose, BC, with several remarkable physical properties, can be grown to any desired shape and structure to meet the needs of different applications. BC has been commercialized as diet foods, filtration membranes, paper additives, and wound dressings. This review article presents an overview of BC structure, biosynthesis, applications, state-of-the-art advances in enhancing BC production, and its material properties through the investigations of genetic regulations, fermentation parameters, and bioreactor design. In addition, future prospects on its applications through chemical modification as a new biologically active derivative will be discussed.