Statistical Optimization of Bacterial Cellulose Production and Its Application for Bacteriophage Immobilization

Bacterial cellulose (BC), an extracellular polysaccharide synthesized by various bacterial strains. It exhibits high tensile strength, water retention, crystallinity, and biocompatibility, making it valuable in biomedical, cosmetic, food, textile, and paper industries. This study examined the effects of six carbon sources on BC production by <i>Komagataeibacter sucrofermentans</i>, identifying fructose as the most effective. A Box-Behnken experimental design was employed to investigate the effects of three variables (fructose concentration, temperature, and cultivation time) on cellulose yield. The optimized cultivation conditions were: fructose concentration of 227.5 g/L, temperature of 28.0 °C, and cultivation time of 295 h, resulting in a BC yield of 63.07 ± 2.91 g/L. Subsequently, BC's potential as a bacteriophage carrier was assessed. <i>Escherichia coli</i> phage T4 and <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> phage vB_SauS_CS1 (CS1) were immobilized within BC hydrogels, and their antibacterial activities were assessed through in vitro experiments. These findings suggest BC's promise as a phage delivery platform for biomedical applications.