title: Illustration of the development of bacterial cellulose bundles/ribbons by Gluconacetobacter xylinus via atomic force microscopy.
abstract: The development of bacterial cellulose (BC) fibrils biosynthesized by Gluconacetobacter xylinus was investigated using atomic force microscopy (AFM). After various incubation times at 30 °C, both the length of BC fibrils and their average diameters increased significantly. After the first 2-h incubation, not only single BC microfibrils with an average diameter of 5.8 ± 0.7 nm were biosynthesized but single microfibrils also began to bind with each other forming bundles. After longer incubation times of 6 h, 16 h, and 48 h, only BC bundles and ribbons or even only ribbons were detectable. The development of BC fibrils and the formation of BC bundles/ribbons along with the biosynthesis time were illustrated using AFM. Furthermore, single BC fibrils were twisted in a right-handed manner. The twisting of BC fibrils possibly promoted the formation of bigger ribbons.
authors: Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry and Paper Chemistry, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Petersenstr. 22, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany. zhang@cellulose.tu-darmstadt.de
authors: Kai
authors: K
authors: Zhang
mesh_terms: D002482:Cellulose / Q000378:metabolism*; D041822:Gluconacetobacter xylinus / Q000378:metabolism*; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force
chemical_list: D002482:Cellulose