Bacterial cellulose: functions, applications and prospects

Cellulose is a β-1,4 glucose polymer of polysaccharide derived from bacterial or plant cells and the structural backbone of plant cell walls. Compared with plant cellulose, bacterial cellulose’s uniqueness is its higher purity, unique structure, and strong nanoscale properties, making it particularly suitable for applications ranging from wound dressings to high-performance materials in industrial manufacturing. While the biosynthesis of plant cellulose has been studied sufficiently, the synthesis of bacterial cellulose, in particular its kinetic parameters and enzymatic processability, remains poorly understood. This study provides an explanation of the molecular details of the process, including the initiation, elongation, and termination.