Bio-Inspired Biomineralized Bacterial Cellulose Composite Material

There is an important need for sustainable structural materials that combine high mechanical strength, possibility of control over 3D shape, and ease in upscaling material production. I will present how we use microorganisms to fabricate inorganic-biopolymer composite materials that show a layered structure reminiscent of tough biominerals in nature (nacre, bone, dentin). The inorganic component consists of calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) crystals formed by <i>Sporosarcina pasteurii</i> bacteria, and the organic components include bacterial cellulose and polyglutamic acid, produced by the bacteria <i>Gluconacetobacter hansenii</i> and <i>Bacillus paralicheniformis</i>, respectively. This ‘bacterial nacre’ reaches and exceeds the toughness of natural nacre, while being fabricated in an ecological, economical, and simple manner using bacteria. The 3D shape can be controlled via molding or direct ink writing. The resulting composite materials show promising applications as light weight structural materials.