Jingxuan Yang

Functionalized bacterial cellulose derivatives and nanocomposites.

Bacterial cellulose (BC) is a fascinating and renewable natural nanomaterial characterized by favorable properties such as remarkable mechanical properties, porosity, water absorbency, moldability, biodegradability and excellent biological affinity. Intensive research and exploration in the past few decades on BC nanomaterials mainly focused on their biosynthetic process to achieve the low-cost preparation and application in medical, food, advanced acoustic diaphragms, and other fields. These investigations have led to the emergence of more diverse potential applications exploiting the functionality of BC nanomaterials. This review gives a summary of construction strategies including biosynthetic modification, chemical modification, and different in situ and ex situ patterns of functionalization for the preparation of advanced BC-based functional nanomaterials. The major studies being directed toward elaborate designs of highly functionalized material systems for many-faceted prospective applications. Simple biosynthetic or chemical modification on BC surface can improve its compatibility with different matrix and expand its utilization in nano-related applications. Moreover, based on the construction strategies of functional nanomaterial system, different guest substrates including small molecules, inorganic nanoparticles or nanowires, and polymers can be incorporated onto the surfaces of BC nanofibers to prepare various functional nanocomposites with outstanding properties, or significantly improved physicochemical, catalytic, optoelectronic, as well as magnetic properties. We focus on the preparation methods, formation mechanisms, and unique performances of the different BC derivatives or BC-based nanocomposites. The special applications of the advanced BC-based functional nanomaterials, such as sensors, photocatalytic nanomaterials, optoelectronic devices, and magnetically responsive membranes are also critically and comprehensively reviewed.

Biomimetic mineralization synthesis of hydroxyapatite bacterial cellulose nanocomposites

Abstract Hydroxyapatite (HAp)/bacterial cellulose (BC) nanocomposites were prepared by an optimal biomimetic mineralization synthesis approach for bone tissue engineering application. BC with ultrafine three dimensional network was negatively charged by the adsorption of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) to initiate the nucleation of HAp. The HAp was grown in vitro along the nanofiber network of BC via dynamic simulated body fluid (SBF) treatment. It was found that rod-like HAp particles in the nano-scale (100–200 nm) homogeneously deposited on the surface of PVP-BC. ATR-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) results showed that carbonate-containing HAp crystals resembling natural bones were formed by biomimetic mineralization method. Moreover, the amount of HAp observed increased with increasing mineralization time. And the Ca/P overall ratio ranged from 1.37 to 1.59. The results from Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-AES) indicated that PVP treatment enhanced the apatite nucleation ability of BC with higher HAp deposit amount.

Synthesis of flexible magnetic nanohybrid based on bacterial cellulose under ultrasonic irradiation.

Flexible magnetic membrane based on bacterial cellulose (BC) was successfully prepared by in-situ synthesis of the Fe3O4 nanoparticles under different conditions and its properties were characterized. The results demonstrated that the Fe3O4 nanoparticles coated with PEG were well homogeneously dispersed in the BC matrix under ultrasonic irradiation with the saturation magnetization of 40.58 emu/g. Besides that, the membranes exhibited the striking flexibility and mechanical properties. This study provided a green and facile method to inhibit magnetic nanoparticle aggregation without compromising the mechanical properties of the nanocomposites. Magnetically responsive BC membrane would have potential applications in electronic actuators, information storage, electromagnetic shielding coating and anti-counterfeit.

Color-tunable luminescent CdTe quantum dot membranes based on bacterial cellulose (BC) and application in ion detection

Color-tunable luminescent membranes of CdTe QDs on bacterial cellulose (BC) nanofibers were successfully fabricated by in situ synthesis in aqueous solution. No nitrogen protection and expensive reagents are needed during the preparation process. The luminescent color of the CdTe/BC nanocomposite membranes with green, orange and red luminescence can be tuned easily by controlling the reaction time. The prepared CdTe/BC nanocomposites were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field effect scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray analysis (FESEM-EDX) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis), photoluminescence (PL) spectra and PL quantum efficiency (PL QE) were used to investigate the optical properties. Moreover, we attempted to make the luminescent membranes into an ion test paper. The green luminescent membranes had a good selectivity for Cu2+ with a detection limit of 0.016 mM and the mechanism of quenching Cu2+ were also explored. This work provides a simple, effective and eco-friendly method for the construction of luminescent CdTe QDs on BC membranes with high detectability for detection of Cu2+.