The high consumption of packaging has led to a massive production of waste, especially in the form of nonbiodegradable polymers that are difficult to recycle. Microbial cellulose is considered a biodegradable, low-cost, useful, ecologically correct polymer that may be joined with other biomaterials to obtain novel characteristics and can, therefore, be used as a raw material to produce packaging. Bagasse, a waste rich in plant cellulose, can be reprocessed and used to produce and reinforce other materials. Based on these concepts, the aim of the current research was to design sustainable packaging material composed of bacterial cellulose (BC) and sugarcane bagasse (SCB), employing an innovative shredding and reconstitution method able to avoid biomass waste. This method enabled creating a uniform structure with a 0.10-cm constant thickness, classified as having high grammage. The developed materials, particularly the 0.7 BC/0.3 SCB [70% (w/w) BC plus 30% (w/w) SCB] composite, had considerable tensile strength (up to 46.22 MPa), which was nearly thrice that of SCB alone (17.43 MPa). Additionally, the sorption index of the 0.7 BC/0.3 SCB composite (235.85 ± 31.29 s) was approximately 300-times higher than that of SCB (0.78 ± 0.09 s). The packaging material was also submitted to other analytical tests to determine its physical and chemical characteristics, which indicated that it has excellent flexibility and can be folded 100 times without tearing. Its surface was explored via scanning electron microscopy, which revealed the presence of fibers measuring 83.18 nm in diameter (BC). Greater adherence after the reconstitution process and even a uniform distribution of SCB fibers in the BC matrix were observed, resulting in greater tear resistance than SCB in its pure form. The results demonstrated that the composite formed by BC and SCB is promising as a raw material for sustainable packaging, due to its resistance and uniformity.

The use of natural-origin biomaterials in bioengineering has led to innovative approaches in agroforestry. Bacterial cellulose (BC), sharing the same chemical formula as plant-origin cellulose (PC), exhibits significantly different biochemical properties, including a high degree of crystallinity and superior water retention capacity. Previous research showed that natural-origin glucose-based chitin enhanced plant growth in both herbaceous and non-herbaceous plants. In this study, we produced BC in the laboratory and investigated its effects on the substrate and on Solanum lycopersicum seedlings. Soil amended with BC increased root growth compared with untreated seedlings. Additionally, under limited irrigation conditions, BC increased global developmental parameters including fresh and dry weight, as well as total carbon and nitrogen content. Under non-irrigation conditions, BC contributed substantially to plant survival. RNA sequencing (Illumina®) on BC-treated seedlings revealed that BC, despite its bacterial origin, did not stress the plants, confirming its innocuous nature, and it lightly induced genes related to root development and cell division as well as inhibition of stress responses and defense. The presence of BC in the organic substrate increased soil availability of phosphorus (P), iron (Fe), and potassium (K), correlating with enhanced nutrient uptake in plants. Our results demonstrate the potential of BC for improving soil nutrient availability and plant tolerance to low irrigation, making it valuable for agricultural and forestry purposes in the context of global warming.

Traditional vinegars are naturally produced from sugar- or starch-containing raw materials, through alcoholic fermentation followed by acetic fermentation. Fermentation is a spontaneous and complex process involving interactions between various microorganisms. In this study, we produced vinegar using traditional methods from six fruits: rosehip, pear, fig, wild pear, apple, and plum. Bacteria that produce bacterial cellulose (BC) were isolated from these vinegars and identified. In addition, we investigated the properties of BC produced from these bacteria. The strains isolated from vinegars were identified as Gluconobacter oxydans strain MG2022, Acetobacter tropicalis strain MG2022, Acetobacter fabarum strain MG2022, Komagataeibacter saccharivorans strain MG2022, K. saccharivorans strain EG2022, and Acetobacter lovaniensis strain OD2022. In total, 0.83-2.04 g/L BC was produced and the bacterial strain isolated from pear vinegar yielded the most BC. BC produced by the bacterial strain isolated from wild pear vinegar had the highest thermal stability and crystallinity (87.44 %). Overall, this study shows that different fruits contain different BC-producing bacteria in their natural flora and vinegars obtained from fruits can be used in BC production. Also, different BC-producing bacteria can be isolated from different vinegars, and BC produced by these bacteria might have different properties.

This study reports on the modification of bacterial cellulose (BC) membranes produced by static fermentation of Komagataeibacter xylinus bacterial strains with graphene oxide-silver nanoparticles (GO-Ag) to yield skin wound dressings with improved antibacterial properties. The GO-Ag sheets were synthesized through chemical reduction with sodium citrate and were utilized to functionalize the BC membranes (BC/GO-Ag). The BC/GO-Ag composites were characterized to determine their surface charge, morphology, exudate absorption, antimicrobial activity, and cytotoxicity by using fibroblast cells. The antimicrobial activity of the wound dressings was assessed against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The results indicate that the BC/GO-Ag dressings can inhibit ∼70% of E. coli cells. Our findings also revealed that the porous BC/GO-Ag antimicrobial dressings can efficiently retain 94% of exudate absorption after exposure to simulated body fluid (SBF) for 24 h. These results suggest that the dressings could absorb excess exudate from the wound during clinical application, maintaining adequate moisture, and promoting the proliferation of epithelial cells. The BC/GO-Ag hybrid materials exhibited excellent mechanical flexibility and low cytotoxicity to fibroblast cells, making excellent wound dressings able to control bacterial infectious processes and promote the fast healing of dermal lesions.

The study elucidates that the pH shifting treatment unfolds the conformation of soybean protein isolate (SPI), enabling it to intertwine with bacterial cellulose (BC) and form SPI/BC co-assemblies. Results from intrinsic fluorescence spectroscopy and surface hydrophobicity indicate that the SPI with pH shifting treatment shows a notable blue shift in maximum emission wavelength and increased surface hydrophobicity. It demonstrates that pH shifting treatment facilitates the unfolding of SPI\'s molecular conformation, promoting its entanglement with high aspect ratio BC. Particle size distribution and microstructural analysis further demonstrate that the pH shifting treatment facilitates the formation of SPI/BC co-assemblies. Evaluation of processing properties reveals that the SPI/BC co-assemblies exhibited exceptional gel and emulsification properties, with gel strength and emulsifying activity respectively six and two times higher than natural SPI. This enhancement is attributed to the thickening properties of BC with a high aspect ratio and the superior hydrophobicity of SPI in its molten globule state.

Cellulose from bacteria is a high-purity biomaterial naturally produced by bacteria as part of their metabolic process. Although it inherently lacks antimicrobial activity, its modification with bioactive substances can significantly enhance its efficacy beyond that of the original compounds. This biomaterial features a unique ability to retain substantial quantities of liquids within its three-dimensional network, making it a prime candidate for biomedical applications. Versatile in its properties, it can be utilized across various industries. Previous research has highlighted its capacity to exhibit antimicrobial properties and to encapsulate nanostructured materials, thereby augmenting its antibacterial effectiveness. This review focuses on the use of cellulose from bacteria as a carrier for active compounds, specifically targeting antibacterial activity against drug-resistant strains. We explore its role in innovative bacterial cellulose-based systems, which present a promising solution for tackling bacterial resistance. This review aims to showcase the potential of bacterial cellulose in developing new devices and treatment strategies that address critical concerns in global health.

Membrane-based separation technologies have drawn significant interest because of their compactness, low energy consumption, and ability to be easily integrated with existing processes. There has been significant interest in the utilization of natural materials derived from sustainable and renewable resources for membrane fabrication. Cellulose is one of the promising polymers which has been extensively studied in membrane fabrication and modification due to its abundant availability, non-toxicity and biodegradability. While there have been several reviews in recent years separately on TFC membranes and cellulose-based materials for different applications, reviews exclusively focusing on cellulosic nanomaterials-based TFC membranes are still lacking. This review provides an overview of the types of cellulose nanomaterials exploited for the development and modification of TFC membranes, particularly those used for desalination and wastewater treatment. We have presented a brief description of cellulose-based nanomaterials followed by a detailed discussion of different studies addressing each cellulose nanomaterial separately. In addition, we have summarized the performance of different studies in the literature, paying particular attention to the enhancement achieved by the incorporation of cellulose nanomaterial in the membrane.

Developing multifunctional materials for water treatment remains a significant challenge. Bacterial cellulose (BC) holds immense potential as an adsorbent with high pollutant-binding capacity, hydrophilicity, and biosafety. In this study, N-acetylglucosamine was used as a carbon source to ferment BC, incorporating amide bonds in situ. Bentonite, renowned for its adsorption properties, was added to the culture medium, resulting in BC-bentonite composite membranes via a one-step fermentation process. Polyethyleneimine (PEI) was crosslinked with amide bonds on the membrane via glutaraldehyde through Schiff base reactions to enhance the performance of the composite membrane. The obtained membrane exhibited increased hydrophilicity, enhanced active adsorption sites, and enlarged specific surface area. It not only physically adsorbed contaminants through its unique structure but also effectively captured dye molecules (Congo red, Methylene blue, Malachite green) via electrostatic interactions. Additionally, it formed stable complexes with metal ions (Cd²⁺, Pb²⁺, Cu²⁺) through coordination and effectively adsorbed their mixtures. Moreover, the composite membrane demonstrated the broad-spectrum antibacterial activity, effectively inhibiting the growth of tested bacteria. This study introduces an innovative method for fabricating composite membranes as adsorbents for complex water pollutants, showing significant potential for long-term wastewater treatment of organic dyes, heavy metal ions, and pathogens.

This work describes determining urea in milk samples using a multicommuted approach with a urease enzyme immobilized in bacterial cellulose and solid MOF as a colorimetric reagent. The Cu(2+)-MOF was characterized by FTIR spectroscopy, XRD, and SEM. The urea quantification was based on the urea hydrolysis reaction catalyzed by urease and reacted with Cu(2+)-MOF forming [Cu(NH3)4]2+, monitored at 450 nm. Linear responses were obtained from 1.0 to 50.0 mg dL-1 urea (R = 0.9959, n = 11), detection and quantitation limits of 0.082 mg dL-1 and 0.272 mg dL-1 respectively, analytical frequency of 8 determinations per hour, 0.8 mL sample solution consumption. Potential interfering studies have shown the selectivity of the proposed method. Addition and recovery tests were performed obtaining variation from 90 to 103%. Applying the F-test and t-test, the results showed no significant difference at the 95% confidence level Comparing the proposed and the reference method.

Reverse electrodialysis (RED) systems employing charged nanochannels have gained prominence for harvesting salinity gradient energy. Nevertheless, fabricating nanochannel membranes with optimal ion selectivity and high energy conversion efficiency remains a significant challenge. In this study, we develop oppositely charged bacterial cellulose (BC)/polymer composite nano-channel membranes with precisely designed nanochannel architectures by integrating chemical modification with composite material technology. Initially, BC undergoes chemical modifications, including 2,2,6,6-Tetramethylpiperidine 1-oxy radical (TEMPO) oxidation and quaternisation. Subsequently, a polymer network is integrated into the modified BC network through a polymer synthesis technique. This approach successfully yields negatively charged BC/poly(sodium p-styrene sulfonate) (NBC/PSS) composite double-networked nanochannel membranes and positively charged BC/poly(dopamine) (PBC/PDA) composite double-networked nanochannel membranes. Notably, these membranes exhibit significantly enhanced ionic conductivities, with values of 0.0008 and 0.0014 S cm-1 for the NBC/PSS and PBC/PDA composites, respectively, while also demonstrating superior ion selectivity with cation transfer numbers of 0.9 and 0.1 respectively. Furthermore, a series connection of 30 BCE/charged polymer-based RED devices successfully powers an electronic calculator. This work offers novel insights into the design of BC-based RED devices by integrating chemical modification and polymeric composite strategies for efficient salinity gradient energy generation.