Highly Stretchable Bacterial Cellulose Produced by Komagataeibacter hansenii SI1

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Materials Science
• Microbiology

Background:

• Bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) is a biopolymer with diverse applications.
• Optimizing BNC production and properties is crucial for material development.
• The strain *Komagataeibacter hansenii* SI1 was isolated from Kombucha.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of carbon and nitrogen sources on BNC yield and properties.
• To assess the effect of initial pH on BNC synthesis.
• To enhance the stretchability and porosity of BNC.

Main Methods:

• Cultivation of *K. hansenii* SI1 using various media compositions.
• Characterization of BNC properties using scanning electron microscopy, FTIR, XRD, and mechanical testing.
• Optimization of BNC production parameters including pH and nutrient supplementation.

Main Results:

• *K. hansenii* SI1 efficiently produces BNC in glycerol medium (3.20-3.60 g/L) at pH 5.0-6.0.
• Glucose medium resulted in BNC with 77% strain, exceeding other *Komagataeibacter* species.
• Vitamin C supplementation enhanced BNC porosity and stretchability up to 123% without altering chemical composition.

Conclusions:

• *K. hansenii* SI1 is a promising source for producing bacterial nanocellulose with tunable properties.
• Vitamin C is an effective additive for enhancing BNC's mechanical performance, particularly stretchability.
• The developed BNC production method with altered properties is protected by a Polish patent.