Bacterial nanocellulose applications

Bacterial nanocellulose has proven to be a remarkably versatile biomaterial with numerous potential applications published every year. A recent review article dealing with BNC patents showed a highly increasing number of 

Properties of Ideal Wound Care Dressing Properties of Microbial Cellulose 

Besides temporary wound-dressing devices, BNC has been reported to have potential application as a human tissue substitute for use, for example, in cases where extensive loss of both the dermal and epidermal layers has taken place [51]. Despite the fact that microbial cellulose is not a biodegradable material in the short term, it could stay in the body forever without causing any toxic or inflammatory reactions [46]. 

BNC is also being used in guided tissue regeneration, a surgical procedure that utilizes a barrier membrane to enhance the healing process [46]. In this context, BNC was used as a physical barrier to allow the 

Patents over the last few years dealing with BNC biomedical applications illustrate the scientific advances herein reviewed, such as uses of BNC in composite materials for use in osseous tissue support material, blood vessel prosthesis, artificial skin, cartilage-like biomaterial, implan Czaja support material used for cornea, cartilage connective tissue and ligament repair cement for fixing bones, etc. [54]. 

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Because of the extraordinary supramolecular structure and exceptional product characteristics as high-molecular and high-crystalline cellulosics with a water content up to 99%, nanocelluloses require increasing attention. This review assembles the current knowledge in research, development, and application in the field of nanocelluloses through examples. The topics combine selected results on nanocelluloses from bacteria and wood as well as their use as technical membranes and composites with the first longtime study of cellulosics in the animal body for the development of medical devices such as artificial blood vessels, and the application of bacterial nanocellulose as animal wound dressings and cosmetic tissues. 

One recent example of the formation and application of foils/membranes of unmodified bacterial nanocellulose is described by George and coworkers [35]. The processed membrane seems to be of great relevance as a packaging material in the food industry, where continuous moisture removal and minimal-oxygen-transmission properties play a vital role. The purity, controllable water capacity, good mechanical stability, and gas-barrier... 

Paul, G., and Dieter, K. (2010). Bacterial nanocellulose as a renewable material for biomedical applications, MRS Bull., 208-213. 

Keywords Bacterial nanocellulose, Gluconacetobacter xylinus, production conditions, applications... 

Referring to microbial cellulose applications, bacterial nanocellulose has proven to be a remarkably versatile biomaterial with use in paper products, electronics, acoustic membranes, reinforcement of composite materials, membrane filters, hydraulic fracturing fluids, edible food packaging films, and due to its unique nanostructure and properties, in numerous medical and tissue-engineered applications (tissue-engineered constructs, wound healing devices, etc). 

In the current chapter, the synthesis (with particular focus on static versus agitated processes), properties and applications of bacterial nanocellulose, which have been herein briefly introduced, will be reviewed in detail. 

Intensive investigations on preparation, characterization, and application experiments of bacterial nanocellulose tubes are also reported by Helenius et al. (2006) and Bodin et al. (2007a). As part of investigations on bone repair, Hutchens et al. (2006) demonstrated by combination of hydroxyapatite and bacterial nanocellulose that bacterial nanocellulose provides a template for the ordered formation of calcium-deficient hydroxyapatite (CDHAP), the natural mineral component of bone. An... 

Nanocellulose, such as that produced by the bacteria Gluconacetobacter xylinus (bacterial cellulose, BC), is an emerging biomaterial with great potential in several applications. The performance of bacterial cellulose stems from its high purity, ultra-fine network structure and high mechanical properties in the dry state [114]. These features allow its applications in scaffold for tissue regeneration, medical applications and nanocomposites. A few researchers have used bacterial cellulose mats to reinforce polymeric matrices and scaffolds with wound healing properties [115-121]. BC is pure cellulose made by bacterial fabrication via biochemical... 

Fig. 10.7 Examples of biomedical applications of BC are meniscus replacements (pig meniscus on the left, BC meniscus on the right), artificial blood vessels and wound dressing for skin heaiing [76-78], Nanocellulose (bacterial cellulose, BC), such as that produced by Acetobacter xylinum, has shown promising results as a replacement material for small diameter vascular grafts (Fig. 10.8). These BC tubes have been tested in a pig model as an infrarcnal aortic bypass and show promising results for use as vascular grafts in the future...

Cho M, Park B (2011) Tensile and thermal properties of nanocellulose-reinforced poly (vinyl alcohol) nanocomposites. J Ind Eng Chem 17 36-40 Ciechanska D (2004) Multifunctional bacterial cellulose/chitosan composite materials for medical applications. Fibres Text East Eur 12 69-72... 

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