One-Step Production of Amphiphilic Nanofibrillated Cellulose Using a Cellulose-Producing Bacterium

Abstract

Nanofibrillated bacterial cellulose (NFBC) is produced by culturing a cellulose-producing bacterium (Gluconacetobacter intermedius NEDO-01) with rotation or agitation in medium supplemented with carboxymethylcellulose (CMC). Despite a high yield and dispersibility in water, the product immediately aggregates in organic solvents. To broaden its applicability, we prepared amphiphilic NFBC by culturing strain NEDO-01 in medium supplemented with hydroxyethylcellulose or hydroxypropylcellulose instead of CMC. Transmission electron microscopy analysis revealed that the resultant materials (HE-NFBC and HP-NFBC, respectively) comprised relatively uniform fibers with diameters of 33 ± 7 and 42 ± 8 nm, respectively. HP-NFBC was dispersible in polar organic solvents such as methanol, acetone, isopropyl alcohol, acetonitrile, tetrahydrofuran (THF), and dimethylformamide, and was also dispersible in poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) by solvent mixing using THF. HP-NFBC/PMMA composite films were highly transparent and had a higher tensile strength than neat PMMA film. Thus, HP-NFBC has a broad range of applications, including as a filler material.

Industrial-Scale Production and Applications of Bacterial Cellulose

“…Their results show that the CMC-decorated BC (CM-BC), HEC-decorated BC (HE-BC), and HPC-decorated BC (HP-BC) are finer nanofibers compared with native BC (Figure 12). The average diameter size of these modified fibers is ranged from 20 to 50 nm, which is obviously smaller than that the native BC (Tajima et al, 2017). CM-BC and HE-BC, like BC, are hydrophilic, and can be well-dispersed in water.…”

“…Furthermore, HP-BC can be composited into polymethyl methacrylate resin (PMMA) with high dispersion. The composite PMMA resin maintains transparency when 1 wt % HP-BC was added, while the resin composed of 1 wt % CM-BC looks foggy ( Figure 12E; Tajima et al, 2017). The mechanical properties of HP-BC-embedded PMMA resin are also remarkably improved, representing 15% enhancement in the tensile strength (Tajima et al, 2017).…”

“…This provides a route to produce BC with diverse properties. Kusano Sakko Inc. has successfully developed diverse BC with the trade name of Fibnano (Tajima et al, 2017). It is comprised of CMC, hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC), and hydroxpropyl cellulose (HPC) decorated BC (Figure 12; Kusano Sakko Inc, 2020).…”

“…CM-BC and HE-BC, like BC, are hydrophilic, and can be well-dispersed in water. In comparison, HP-BC is amphipathic, and thus can be dispersed in both water and organic solvents (Tajima et al, 2017). Furthermore, HP-BC can be composited into polymethyl methacrylate resin (PMMA) with high dispersion.…”

Novel Making of Bacterial Cellulose Blended Polymeric Fiber Bandages

“…These limitations can be overcome by blending it with a natural polymer . Bacterial cellulose (BC) is a natural polymer which is very promising for making wound healing materials due to its exceptional features such as high strength, durability, thermal stability, biocompatibility, and low cost . Also, various materials based on nongenotoxic and noncytotoxic bacterial cellulose have been commercialized and promotes it as a major wound healing material.…”