ABSTRACT
Bacterial cellulose (BC) is a biopolysaccharide synthesized primarily by Acetobacter bacteria. In the metabolism process of Acetobacter, the consumed glucose is polymerized into cellulose and extruded as nanoibrils through tiny pores at the outer membrane of the bacterial cell. Subsequently, the nanoibrils aggregate to form cellulose ribbons in a web-like network structure. Although many bacteria genera, such as Achromobacter, Agrobacterium, Pseudomonas, and Rhizobium, can produce BC [1], Acetobacter bacteria (especially Acetobacter xylinum) have the ability to synthesize a large quantity of high quality cellulose organized as twisted bundles of microibrillar ribbons [2].
