Bacterial cellulose (BC), excreted by Gluconacetobacter xylinus, is a unique
nanofibrilar biopolymer with a wide range of applications in human and veterinary medicine,
odonthology, pharmaceutical industry, biotechnological, food and paper industry.
The major research activities of our research group include the following headlines:
- Surface-modification of BC matrices and BC whiskers for the design of novel functional
BC nanocomposite systems. This domain includes the surface-activation of BC with CBMs
(Carbohydrate Binding Modules) conjugated with bioactive peptides for biomedical
applications.[1] CEB-UM has already shown that the adsorption of CBM-RGD (the minimal
essential cell adhesion recognition motifs) onto BC improves its ability to adsorb
fibroblasts.[2] Also, research on the use of BC tubes as new guides for neuronal growth
(CAPES, 3989/05-4) and, for the first time, on assessing the in vivo cytotoxicity of BC
nanofibers (SFRH/BD/18418/2004), is on course.
- Design of novel BC structures with tailored microporosity, for biomedical applications
(SFRH/BD/48759/2008).
- Engineering of electro-conductive and electro-active BC scaffolds with potential
applications in neuronal growth. The embedded polymeric directionally of the BC nanofibers
is expected to exhibit shear piezoelectricity which, coupled with a high in situ moldability,
thrusts a promising future for novel BC-based materials such as lightweight, biodegradable
electro-actives, biosensors and flexible electric displays, with a tailored oriented stiffness and
strength.
- Exploring the large-scale fermentation of BC. A novel bioreactor, based on a surfaceculture
method was designed. A simple and low-cost piece of equipment is capable of direct
nebulization of a high volume of dispersed and microparticulated subtrate over the growing
bacteria. The developed system may reveal to be an interesting economic solution for the
large-scale production of BC
