SCOBY Cellulose-Based Materials Hydrophobized Using Stearic Acid and Apple Powder.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Biomaterials Engineering
• Surface Chemistry

Background:

• Bacterial cellulose (BC) possesses desirable properties like biocompatibility and ease of production.
• Its inherent hydrophilicity limits applications where moisture resistance is crucial.
• Developing methods to control BC's surface properties is essential for expanding its utility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To engineer bacterial cellulose (BC)-based materials with enhanced moisture resistance.
• To investigate the effects of apple powder and stearic acid modifications on BC's surface properties.
• To understand the relationship between material composition, surface interactions, and hydrophobicity.

Main Methods:

• Modification of BC using apple powder, stearic acid, or combined treatments.
• Surface functionalization via coating with apple powder and stearic acid mixtures.
• Characterization using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and computational modeling (SCIGRESS v.FJ 2.7).
• Assessment of material wettability through water contact angle measurements.

Main Results:

• Modified BC materials exhibited significantly increased hydrophobicity, with water contact angles reaching up to 125°.
• FTIR and modeling confirmed altered hydrogen bonding, weakening cellulose-water interactions.
• The study indicated that component interactions, rather than surface roughness, primarily govern hydrophobicity.
• No antimicrobial activity was observed against tested bacterial or fungal strains.

Conclusions:

• Bacterial cellulose can be effectively modified to achieve robust hydrophobic surfaces.
• Apple powder and stearic acid are viable modifiers for imparting moisture resistance to BC.
• The findings highlight the importance of molecular interactions in controlling biomaterial surface properties.
• The developed materials show promise for applications requiring moisture resistance, excluding antimicrobial uses.