Bacterial Cellulose Nanocomposites: Morphology and Mechanical Properties

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Microbiology
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Bacterial cellulose (BC) offers excellent biocompatibility and mechanical strength for biomedical applications.
• Exploring novel microbial sources for BC synthesis and modification is crucial for advancing biomaterials.
• The symbiotic consortium *Medusomyces gisevii* presents a unique source for BC production.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize bacterial cellulose (BC) and its nanocomposite modifications.
• To investigate the structural, physicochemical, and mechanical properties of BC-silver (BC-Ag) and BC-calcium phosphate (BC-Ca3(PO4)2).
• To evaluate the potential of these BC nanocomposites for biomedical applications.

Main Methods:

• Microbiological synthesis of BC using *Medusomyces gisevii*.
• Modification of BC with silver nanoparticles (Ag) and calcium phosphate (Ca3(PO4)2).
• Characterization using SEM, EDX, AFM, FTIR, and mechanical/water capacity testing.

Main Results:

• BC-Ag and BC-Ca3(PO4)2 nanocomposites exhibited distinct structural features, including unique fibril arrangements and inorganic crystal inclusions.
• SEM and AFM revealed specific morphologies for Ag nanoparticles and Ca3(PO4)2 crystals within the BC matrix.
• Decellularized BC showed significantly enhanced Young's modulus and tensile strength compared to native BC films.

Conclusions:

• The symbiotic consortium *Medusomyces gisevii* can produce bacterial cellulose with unique structural properties.
• Modification with Ag and Ca3(PO4)2 yields BC nanocomposites with distinct characteristics suitable for further biomedical investigation.
• Enhanced mechanical properties of decellularized BC suggest potential for load-bearing biomedical applications.