Properties of Bacterial Nanocellulose

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Bacterial cellulose is recognized as a multifaceted, versatile biomaterial with abundant applications. It is a completely biodegradable, ecological, non-toxic, chemically stable, and biocompatible material. Unlike plant cellulose, it is characterized by high crystallinity, a higher degree of polymerization, and higher tensile strength and Young's modulus. In addition, bacterial cellulose, unlike vegetable cellulose, has a smaller diameter of fibres and hence possesses higher hydrophilicity. The properties of bacterial cellulose depend on multiple factors, such as culture conditions, the type of microorganisms, and nutrients present in the growth medium. These factors have a huge impact on the properties of the polymer, such as strength, crystallinity, degree of polymerization, or hygroscopicity.