Tailor-Made Biosystems - Bacterial Cellulose-Based Films with Plant Cell Wall Polysaccharides

Abstract Bacterial cellulose (BC) is a natural biopolymer metabolized by Gram-negative bacteria strains in carbon- and nitrogen-rich media. Due to its natural purity, biodegradability, biocompatibility and outstanding mechanical properties, it is considered to be an exceptional biomaterial with versatile scientific and commercial applications. The current review presents data concerning the assembly, structural properties and mechanical behavior of specific biosystems based on bacteria-produced cellulose and polysaccharides derived from plant cell walls. Bacterial cellulose, hemicellulose, their binary composites and ternary composites with pectin are described with respect to the mechanical properties of the obtained materials. The properties of one-component and composite films are discussed with respect to the type of polysaccharides used, their origin and applied pretreatments, as well as various methodological approaches to bacterial cellulose synthesis. This work is focused entirely on the relationship between production methods and composition, and the resulting properties of the obtained materials, it constitutes a universal source of knowledge for specialists from various fields of science and industry.