Bacterial Cellulose-Based Polymer Nanocomposites

In the groundbreaking work of Iwata et al. [84], BC nanocomposites with different neutral and acidic lignin-carbohydrate complexes have likewise been considered. Their resistance against alkali, in contrast with the high lability of their delignified counterparts, clearly indicated the importance of lignin on the formation of the cellulose-hemiceUuloses-lignin framework of plant secondary cell walls. In another study, BC and BC/pectin nanocomposite membranes were used as host matrices for the in vitro 

In another vein, Gindl and Keckes [94] studied the tensile properties of nanocomposites of cellulose acetate butyrate and BC prepared by solvent casting. These composites exhibited phenomena such as stiffening after straining in tension, commonly observed in plant tissues, which emphasized the effectiveness of BC-based nanocomposites as simple model systems also for cellulose composite materials. 

Besides these fundamental research studies, blending BC with other natural polymers (or derivatives), particularly other polysaccharides and proteins, is a very simple and promising strategy for the development of novel nanocomposite materials because of their similar chemical structures and expectable compatibility, renewability, biode-gradabihty and panoply of different physico-chemical and biological properties. 

For example, transparent nanocomposite films based on chitosan and BC were prepared through a fully green approach by casting a water-based suspension of chitosan 

Lin et al. [110] developed porous BC/chitosan nanocomposite membranes prepared by immersing BC membranes in a chitosan solution followed by freeze-drying. Histological examinations revealed that wormds treated with these BC/chltosan membranes epithelized and regenerated faster than those treated with pure BC membranes and therefore are considered as potential candidates for wound dressing materials. 

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Nanocellulose and its derivatives can be processed into different forms. Bacterial celulose is one such important type of nanocellulose. It has been processed into nanofibers for different applications. Figure 1.8 shows the different applications of cellulose acetate nanofibers [51]. Chapters 2 and 4 discuss the different perspectives of bacterial cellulose-based materials and their different applications. In these chapters the authors discuss in detail a vast collection of BC nanocomposites prepared using different polymer matrices such as natural polymers and thermoplastic matrices. In addition to this,... 

In a recent original contribution to this topic. Brown and Laborie [41] prepared finely dispersed nanocomposites of bacterial cellulose in poly(ethylene oxide) by introducing the latter polymer in the former growth mediura This integrated manufacturing approach opens a novel promising route to fibre-reinforced nanocomposites based on bacterial cellulose. 

Sanchavanakit N, Sangrungraungroj W, Kaomongkolgit R et al (2006) Growth of human kerati-nocytes and fibroblasts on bacterial cellulose film. Biotechnol Prog 22 1194—1199 Schroers M, Kokil A, Weder C (2004) Solid polymer electrolytes based on nanocomposites of ethylene oxide-epichlorohydrin copolymers and cellulose whiskers. J AppI Polym Sci... 

Wagberg L, Decher G, Norgren M et al (2008) The build up of polyelectrolyte multilayers of microfibrillated cellulose and cationic polyelectrolytes. Langmuir 24 784-795 Wan WK, Hutter JL, Millon LE et al (2006) Bacterial cellulose and it s nanocomposites for biomedical applications. In Oksman K, Sain M (eds) Cellulose nanocomposites. Processing characterization and properties. American Chemical Society, Washington, DC Wang B, Sain M (2007a) Dispersion of soybean stock-based nanofibre in a plastic matrix. Polym Int 56 538-546... 

Lee KY, Bharadia P, Blaker JJ, Bismarck A (2012c) Short sisal fibre reinforced bacterial cellulose polylactide nanocomposites using hairy sisal fibres as reinforcement. Compos A 43 2065-2074 Lei Y, Wu Q (2010) Wood plastic composites based on microfibrillar blends of high density polyethylene/poly(ethylene terephthalate). Bioresour Technol 101 3665-3671 Liu D, Zhong T, Chang PR, Li K, Wu Q (2010) Starch composites reinforced by bamboo cellulosic crystals. Bioresour Technol 101 2529-2536 Liu H, Xie F, Yu L, Chen L, Li L (2009) Thermal processing of starch-based polymers. Prog Polym Sci 34 1348-1368... 

Chapter 4 discusses in detail the bacterial cellulose-reinforced renewable polymer-matrix-based composites. The techniques used to prepare the nanocomposites include... 

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