Abstract
Bacterial nanocellulose (BNC, as exopolysaccharide) synthesized by some specific bacteria strains is a fascinating biopolymer composed of the three-dimensional pure cellulosic nanofibrous matrix without containing lignin, hemicellulose, pectin, and other impurities as in plant-based cellulose. Due to its excellent biocompatibility (in vitro and in vivo), high water-holding capacity, flexibility, high mechanical properties, and a large number of hydroxyl groups that are most similar characteristics of native tissues, BNC has shown great potential in tissue engineering applications. This review focuses on and discusses the efficacy of BNC- or BNC-based biomaterials for hard tissue regeneration. In this review, we provide brief information on the key aspects of synthesis and properties of BNC, including solubility, biodegradability, thermal stability, antimicrobial ability, toxicity, and cellular response. Further, modification approaches are discussed briefly to improve the properties of BNC or BNC-based structures. In addition, various biomaterials by using BNC (as sacrificial template or matrix) or BNC in conjugation with polymers and/or fillers are reviewed and discussed for dental and bone tissue engineering applications. Moreover, the conclusion with perspective for future research directions of using BNC for hard tissue regeneration is briefly discussed.
Highlights
Owing to various imitations of conventional procedures, natural and/or synthetic polymer-based scaffolds have shown a great potential for hard tissue regeneration process due to their suitable moldability, bioinertness, excellent biocompatibility, ease of manipulation in degradation and mechanical properties to mimic three-dimensional (3D) architecture of extracellular matrix (ECM) of native hard tissues [2]
First, we describe the efficacy of nanocellulose in tissue engineering and a precise description of the synthesis of bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) and its properties, including solubility, biodegradation ability, thermal stability, toxicity and cellular response, antimicrobial activity, and further desired modification methods to enhance properties of BNC or BNC-based biomaterials
One of the important factors in the production of BNC is the modification of microarchitecture of BNC as a result of culture medium conditions, for example, using ethanol [38,39], coconut water [40], agar [21], polymers, composite supports [20,32], sweet-lime pulp waste [43], paraffin-based wax [44], etc
Summary
Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. Unlike other nanocelluloses (e.g., cellulose nanocrystals or nanofibres), bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) exhibits unique properties such as chemically pure nanofibrous network, high water-holding capacity, excellent biocompatibility, and high mechanical properties that make it highly suitable for the hard tissue regeneration process. This nanofibrous network of BNC resembling native ECM exhibits remarkable effects on cell adhesion and proliferation and is highly desired for making tissue scaffolds [9]. The conclusion and future perspective are provided for possible future research directions
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