Production and characterization of nanospheres of bacterial cellulose from Acetobacter xylinum from processed rice bark

Bacterial cellulose (BC), biosynthesized by Acetobacter xylinum, was produced in a medium consisting of rice bark pre-treated with an enzymatic pool. Rice bark was evaluated as a carbon Source by complete enzymatic hydrolysis and monosaccharide composition (GC-MS of derived alditol acetates). It was treated enzymatically and then enriched with glucose up to 4% (w/v). The BC produced by static and aerated processes was purified by immersion in 0.1 M NaOH. was characterized by FT-IR, X-ray diffraction and the biosynthetic nanostructures were evaluated by Scanning Electronic (SEM), Transmission Electronic ITEM) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). The BC films arising from static fermentation with rice bark/glucose and glucose are tightly intertwined, partially crystalline, being type II cellulose produced with rice bark/glucose. and type I to the produced in a glucose medium. The nanostructurated biopolymer obtained from the rice bark/glucose medium. produced in a reactor with air flux had micro- and nanospheres linked to nanofibers of cellulose. These results indicate that the bark components, namely lignins. hemicelluloses or mineral contents. interact with the cellulose forming micro- and nanostructures with potential use to incorporate drugs. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.