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Updated: Jun 13, 2026

Bacterial Cellulose Spheres that Encapsulate Solid Materials
Published on: February 26, 2021
Peculiarities of Bacterial Cellulose
Jiří Militký1, Mohanapriya Venkataraman1, Şebnem Sözcü1
1Department of Material Engineering, Faculty of Textile Engineering, Technical University of Liberec, Studentska 2, 46117 Liberec, Czech Republic.
Abstract:
Cellulose is the most abundant renewable biopolymer, with bacterial cellulose (BC) emerging as a high-purity, sustainable alternative to plant-derived cellulose. While sharing the same chemical formula, BC possesses unique morphological characteristics, including a 3D nanofibrillar network, high crystallinity (>95%), and superior water-holding capacity (>60%), and is free of lignin and hemicellulose impurities. This review systematically explains the production, morphology, and properties of microbial cellulose produced by strains such as Komagataeibacter. We examine the influence of substrate composition, environmental growth conditions, and post-treatment protocols on the macro- and nanoscopic properties of the final pellicle. Furthermore, we discuss the high-performance applications of BC in medicine and health promotion, focusing on its efficacy as a wound dressing, artificial skin, and drug-delivery vehicle. Finally, current challenges in large-scale production and future strategies for tailoring BC properties are addressed.
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