Mechanical characterization of bacterial cellulose: the influence of mold bending radius, surface topography and absorbed liquid

Bacterial cellulose (BC) is a polymer produced via the fermentation process in aerobic conditions by bacteria such as Acetobacter xylinium. This very appealing material is attractive for the production of biomedical devices due to its unique features such as purity, high crystallinity, ultrafine three-dimensional nanostructure network, high water absorption, superior mechanical properties, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. In the human body it is a biocompatible material which can be used as antiadhesive and antifibrotic protection for cardiovascular implants (HYLOMATE®-HPC, Hylomorph AG). In the present work, BC samples were produced and mechanically tested comparing the effects of three main production parameters: the radius of curvature, the surface topography of the mold, and the absorbed liquid within the biocellulose network. The experimental data revealed that a larger radius of curvature, the presence of micropatterned topography on the BC surface, and the absorption of a PBS-based solution by the BC fibers network all led to a reduction in the mechanical performance. These findings can guide further research in optimizing these factors to achieve the highest-performing medical device.