Nano-biomaterials application: In situ modification of bacterial cellulose structure by adding HPMC during fermentation

• Published in: Carbohydrate polymers 2011-01, Vol.83 (2), p.979-987
• Main Authors: Huang, Huang-Chan, Chen, Li-Chen, Lin, Shih-Bin, Chen, Hui-Huang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: absorption; Applied sciences; Bacteria; Bacterial cellulose; biocompatibility; cellulose; Cellulose and derivatives; crystal structure; Crystallinity; culture media; drying; electromyography; Exact sciences and technology; fermentation; Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy; HPMC; In situ fermentation; nanofibers; Natural polymers; Physicochemistry of polymers; Rehydration; scanning electron microscopy; water holding capacity; X-ray diffraction
• ISSN: 0144-8617; 1879-1344
• DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2010.09.011

Bacterial cellulose (BC) has been studied as biomedical material due to its nanoscale fiber network, biocompatibility, and high water holding capacity. However, BC exhibits a poor rehydration after drying due to its high crystallinity. In this study, hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose (HPMC) was added into a BC fermentation culture medium to interfere with the formation of BC structure in situ and create a modified BC, named HBC. Notably, mechanical strength in HBC declined. SEM images showed that, while the cellulose bundle width of HBC was enlarged, the cellulose network void in HBC shrank. X-ray diffraction and FTIR analysis revealed that the addition of HPMC reduced the crystallinity index ( CrI). HBC also exhibited the highest rehydration ratio as well as the lowest crystallinity at 0.75% HPMC addition level (named 0.75%HBC). The 0.75%HBC also exhibited a higher composition ratio of EMG/BC composite and showed the improvement in water and small molecule absorption.