From Nature to Lab: Sustainable Bacterial Cellulose Production and Modification with Synthetic Biology

Abstract

Bacterial cellulose (BC) is a macromolecule with versatile applications in medicine, pharmacy, biotechnology, cosmetology, food and food packaging, ecology, and electronics. Although many bacteria synthesize BC, the most efficient BC producers are certain species of the genera Komagataeibacter and Novacetimonas. These are also food-grade bacteria, simplifying their utilization at industrial facilities. The basic principles of BC synthesis are known from studies of Komagataeibacter xylinus, which became a model species for studying BC at genetic and molecular levels. Cellulose can also be of plant origin, but BC surpasses its purity. Moreover, the laboratory production of BC enables in situ modification into functionalized material with incorporated molecules during its synthesis. The possibility of growing Komagataeibacter and Novacetimonas species on various organic substrates and agricultural and food waste compounds also follows the green and sustainable economy principles. Further intervention into BC synthesis was enabled by genetic engineering tools, subsequently directing it into the field of synthetic biology. This review paper presents the development of the fascinating field of BC synthesis at the molecular level, seeking sustainable ways for its production and its applications towards genetic modifications of bacterial strains for producing novel types of living biomaterials using the flexible metabolic machinery of bacteria.

Probiotics: Bridging the interplay of a healthy gut and psychoneurological well‐being

“…Through synthetic biology, scientists can genetically modify microbes to produce specific molecules and nutrients, enhancing the nutritional value, flavor, and texture of food. This strategy has led to innovations like lab-grown meat and personalized probiotics customized to each person's unique health needs (Potočnik et al, 2023). As fermentation technologies advance, the process becomes more precise and optimized, resulting in the availability of meat and dairy substitutes, as well as flavorful and nutritious foods like kefir and kombucha with potential health advantages.…”

Microbial Biopolymers: From Production to Environmental Applications—A Review

“…Bacterial cellulose has a significant purity advantage over cellulose generated from plants. Furthermore, bacterial cellulose is biocompatible since complementary polymers and other contaminants are absent from it [86]. Due to its biocompatibility and biodegradability, it offers wide applications.…”

Production and In Situ Modification of Bacterial Cellulose Gels in Raisin Side-Stream Extracts Using Nanostructures Carrying Thyme Oil: Their Physicochemical/Textural Characterization and Use as Antimicrobial Cheese Packaging

“…Superscript letters (a-m for HS, a-l for RFSE) in a row indicate statistical differences between treatments (p < 0.05). The statistical analysis was performed for each substrate separately and for each day of incubation (7,10,14) between the control and the corresponding nanostructure (C/Zt-Th/Zt and C/AC-Th/AC). The lowest concentration of the Zt-Th nanostructure (0.04 g/L) used in the HS medium produced a relatively lower BC yield than the control and the % increase was negative, while when used at 0.32 g/L it led to a ~9% increase in the BC yield.…”

“…Its structural, physicochemical, and mechanical properties (high biocompatibility, biodegradability, crystallinity, purity, water holding capacity, mechanical strength, moldability, and ability to by synthesized in various forms such as fiber, membrane, hydrogel, etc. ), are considered superior to those of plant cellulose, and have been widely studied and reviewed [3][4][5][6][7][8].…”