Bacterial biocomposites: production strategies and medical applications

Cellulose, a vital structural component of the plant cell wall, is a linear polysaccharide polymer consisting of β (1→4) linked (C6H10O5)n D-glucose units. However, cellulose can be produced by plants as well as bacteria, both of which are naturally occurring. Bacterial cellulose (BC), compared to native cellulose, has the same molecular formula, but it differs remarkably in macromolecular properties, characteristics, and a high degree of crystalline index, which allows the formation of ribbon-like microfibrils. BC has higher purity, greater hydrophilicity, greater tensile strength, a high degree of polymerization, and barely any lignin and hemicellulose. Possessing these unique properties makes BC more preferred over native cellulose, rendering the extraction of its purest form simplified without involving any pretreatment processes. A comparison of the structures of plant cellulose and BC reveals that they are chemically similar, but due to structural differences, both natural and BC have different applications in our daily lives. This paper emphasizes microbial cellulose, its production, and utilization, along with some other natural celluloses.