Cellulose-based biomaterials: A plot twist

As chemical protocols in various academic, clinical, and industrial studies around the world slowly shift their norms toward finding safer ways for the production of novel materials and technologies, nature-sourced polymers hold great promise as virtually inexhaustible raw materials. The perfection of their chemical modification is therefore relevant now more than ever, with far-reaching and diverse applicative prospects.

As a model biopolymer, cellulose has a rich history of many industrial uses due to its wild abundance and characteristic physical properties. Although heavily derived by artificial means, its modifications always dogmatically start with its basic chemical structure. This perception was amended last year, as a naturally formed variant of cellulose was discovered. Termed phosphoethanolamine cellulose after its distinctive functional group, this biopolymer is bacterially produced by E. coli, who rely on it for mechanical and microbiological protection as part of their extracellular matrix.

An immediate interest has therefore risen in mass producing a relevant synthetic replicate, to further investigate this biopolymer beyond its limited bacterial yields. The produced replicate can also be used as a new template for further chemical modifications, which will transform it into multi-purpose biomaterials. The specificity and nature of these modifications depend on the goal to which the biomaterial is intended to be used. Possible future research directions include incorporating it as a key player in the design of drug delivery systems, scaffolding materials associated with regenerative medicine, gelling agents in the food industry, and even as an alternative feed source for bioethanol fuel production. Given the rich history of cellulosic materials, it is fair to assume this natural modification will also be incorporated into many new and exciting research avenues.