Bacterial cellulose: Recent advances in biosynthesis, functionalization strategies and emerging applications

This review highlights the recent advancements in the biosynthetic routes of bacterial cellulose, explores various functionalization strategies, discusses their exciting properties, and presents the emerging applications. The biosynthesis of BC involves intricate pathways and regulatory mechanisms that have been extensively investigated, enabling a deeper understanding of its production. Additionally, the review delves into innovative functionalization approaches, including multiple chemical, physical, mechanochemical and biological techniques, which enhance the material's properties and expand its potential applications. Besides biomedicine, textiles, food packaging, and electronics etc., the emerging applications of BC in wound healing, tissue engineering, drug delivery, and flexible electronics are discussed, elucidating the material's substantial contributions to addressing contemporary challenges. In summary, the technological advancements and sustainable practices propels bacterial cellulose into the forefront of materials innovation, with significant potential to revolutionize a multitude of industries. Finally, insights into the future design of functional bacterial cellulose by integrating materials science with synthetic biology interface are proposed.