Multifunctional applications of bacterial cellulose: bridging food, cosmetic and environmental sectors

In recent years, with increasing demand for sustainable, environmentally friendly materials, bacterial cellulose (BC) has attracted significant attention as a promising biomaterial. BC possesses excellent mechanical strength, good biocompatibility, extremely high water-holding capacity (more than 100 times its own weight), and can be easily modified. These unique properties make BC superior to plant cellulose in many applications. This review summarizes recent progress in BC across several important fields. In the food industry, BC has been widely used as edible films and coatings, enhancing the shelf life of fresh products. Moreover, when natural antimicrobial agents or pH indicators were incorporated, active and intelligent packaging were developed. As a food additive, BC acts as a high-quality dietary fiber that can adsorb cholesterol and bile salts in the gastrointestinal tract. BC also improves the texture of low-calorie foods and protects probiotic bacteria during storage. In the cosmetic field, BC is well-suited for facial masks because its three-dimensional structure can hold a large amount of active compounds and conform well to the skin surface. When BC was combined with propolis or other natural extracts, the antioxidant and anti-aging effects were greatly enhanced. In wastewater treatment, the abundant hydroxyl groups and large surface area enable heavy metal ions and organic dyes to be removed effectively. Besides, BC has been used as a reinforcement material in the paper and textile industries. The addition of BC greatly increases tensile strength and provides hydrophobicity while maintaining complete biodegradability. Although BC has numerous excellent properties and great potential in many fields, large-scale production still faces some challenges, mainly high costs and low yields. The use of agro-industrial waste as a substrate and the development of new bioreactors can significantly reduce production costs. Based on the above-mentioned research, it is clear that BC will play an important role in the future sustainable industry.

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