@article{Mcmeeking:2026:10.1016/j.carpta.2026.101113,
author = {Mcmeeking, A and Wang, CT and Tsuge, T and Ellis, T and Lee, KY and Li, J and Dieckmann, E},
doi = {10.1016/j.carpta.2026.101113},
journal = {Carbohydrate Polymer Technologies and Applications},
title = {Interfibre bridging in bacterial nanocellulose via co-culture-derived polyhydroxybutyrate and solvent-free blending approaches},
url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.carpta.2026.101113},
volume = {14},
year = {2026}
}

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TY  - JOUR
AB  - Bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) is a renewable polymer valued for its strength and purity, but its brittleness and hydrophilicity limit wider application. Incorporating biodegradable polyester polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) offers a pathway to functional, scalable composites. We establish two complementary routes for producing bacterial nanocellulose-polyhydroxybutyrate composites. In-situ co-cultures of Komagataeibacter rhaeticus (KR) and Cupriavidus necator (CN) were optimised through inoculation timing, medium screening, and pH buffering. 2-(N-morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid (MES) at 50 mM stabilised culture conditions, improved cellulose output, and enabled PHB co-localisation of 4% total wet weight. These natural incorporation levels provided benchmarks for a solvent-free blending strategy, in which powdered PHB was introduced into plasticised sterilised BNC using Gellan gum, Glycerol, PEG400, and CaCl at loadings of 0.1%, 0.3%, 0.7%, and 2.0% (approximately 10%, 30%, 70%, and 200% relative to dry BNC mass) and heat pressed. Blended films reproduced co-culture PHB levels and tolerated up to 0.7% (wet weight) before shrinkage and brittleness were observed. Heat pressing promoted PHB diffusion between cellulose fibrils, enhancing interfibre bonding; in blended films at 0.3 % PHB (heat-pressed), this yielded a 6.3-fold increase in ultimate tensile strength and a 9.5-fold increase in Young's modulus. Co-culturing defined the biological starting point, while blending enabled scalable processing and systematic characterisation, offering complementary routes to manufacture BNC-PHB composites.
AU  - Mcmeeking,A
AU  - Wang,CT
AU  - Tsuge,T
AU  - Ellis,T
AU  - Lee,KY
AU  - Li,J
AU  - Dieckmann,E
DO  - 10.1016/j.carpta.2026.101113
PY  - 2026///
SN  - 2666-8939
TI  - Interfibre bridging in bacterial nanocellulose via co-culture-derived polyhydroxybutyrate and solvent-free blending approaches
T2  - Carbohydrate Polymer Technologies and Applications
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.carpta.2026.101113
UR  - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666893926000319
VL  - 14
ER  - 

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