Bacterial cellulose surface modification

The unique properties of bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) provide the basis for a wide range of applications in human and veterinary medicine, odontology, pharmaceuticals, acoustic and filter membranes, biotechnological devices, and in the food and paper industry. In this chapter, an overview of surface modifications of bacterial cellulose is presented. Depending on the envisaged applications, chemical modifications, incorporation of bioactive molecules, modification of the porosity, crystallinity, and biodegradability may be obtained, further enlarging the potential of BNC.

The authors thank the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) for funding through PTDC and COMPETE funding programs. The authors also acknowledge the publishers of Elsevier and John Wiley & Sons for kindly authorizing the reproduction of images published in their journals.