Scientists craft tailorable bacterial cellulose hydrogel spheroids for medical applications

Researchers at Nanjing University of Science and Technology have made a significant breakthrough in the production of bacterial cellulose (BC) hydrogel spheroids, which could revolutionize the field of biomaterials. Their innovative method allows for the control over size and shape of these spheroids, making them suitable for a wide range of applications, particularly in the medical field.

The team's findings, published in the Journal of Bioresources and Bioproducts, detail a two-step in situ fermentation strategy to produce BC spheroids. By manipulating factors such as inoculum concentration, shaking speeds, and incubation time, the researchers were able to control the size of the BC spheroids, which ranged from 0.4 to 5.0 mm.

The study revealed that the BC spheroids possess an interactive 3D network of nanofibers, a crystallinity index of 72.3%, a specific surface area of 91.2 m2/g, and demonstrated good cytocompatibility. These characteristics make them an ideal candidate for applications in drug-controlled release and as micro-carriers in the medical industry or agriculture.

The researchers also proposed a mechanism model explaining how the size of BC spheroids can be tuned during the biosynthetic process. This model can guide future research and development in the design of BC spheroid-derived functional materials.

The study was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities, and Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions.