Guided bone regeneration is a medical procedure which induces in vivo re-growth of bone using membranes and osteopromoting fillers. In this work, bacterial cellulose fibers were isolated and used as a basis for biomimetic hydroxyapatite growth, with the ultimate goal of producing GBR filler materials. Acetobacter xylinum generated BC using various carbon sources. Fibers were treated with phosphoric acid to phosphorylate functional groups and preconditioned with calcium to nucleate the HA. Simulated body fluid (SBF) furthered the growth. Over 14 days, the product was characterized via EDX, SEM, FTIR, and XRD. The effect of media composition, phosphorylation time, pretreatment, and structure on the resultant composites was examined. Samples possessed a Ca-to-P ratio as high as 1.45±0.92, encompassing the HA standard of 1.67. Higher ratios were observed on the surface of pellicles, implying crystal deposition. Results indicate potential in three-dimensional samples and a basis for further BC-HA scaffold optimization for GBR
