Modulation of morphology, water uptake/retention, and rheological properties by in-situ modification of bacterial cellulose with the addition of biopolymers

In situ modification of bacterial cellulose (BC) allows structural and morphological tuning which determines the crucial properties such as water absorption/retention rheological behaviour. This work reports effect in carried out by adding two biopolymers Agar Chitosan to standard culture media for synthesis. The agar modified BC (Agar-BC) form a network with reduced pore volume, much denser network, leading lesser absorption further lower retention time than BC. Agar-BC also demonstrates higher storage modulus, while yield point is observed at shear strain. indicates behaviour similar that crosslinked polymer low strain onset plasticity. On other hand, chitosan-modified (Chitosan-BC) exhibits volume densely packed structure swellability 1 h (7 BC). Chitosan-BC presents modulus unmodified absorption-retention discussed detail considering relative shape-size distribution, fibre dimension surface area. mechanism viscoelastic deformation each cases explained.