Bioengineered Bacterial Cellulose as Next-Generation Smart Materials

Bacterial cellulose (BC) has emerged as a promising nanofibrillar biopolymer for nanobiomedical materials and devices, owing to its unique structural, mechanical, and biocompatible properties. Recent advances underscore a growing demand for multifunctional and sustainable nanoscale-engineered systems capable of responding to environmental stimuli in biomedical settings. Despite substantial progress, the broader adoption of BC remains constrained by limited functionalization strategies and challenges associated with scalable production while preserving nanoscale architecture and reproducibility. In this context, synthetic/engineering biology and genetic engineering have gained increasing attention as transformative tools to overcome these bottlenecks. By leveraging advanced genetic toolkits and bioengineering approaches, researchers are enabling enhanced BC biosynthesis, the incorporation of new functionalities, and the creation of hybrid materials with precisely tailored properties at the nano–bio interface. Collectively, these developments position BC as a versatile platform for next-generation sustainable materials, opening new avenues for impactful applications in nanostructured scaffolds, wound healing, regenerative medicine, biosensing, and drug-delivery-enabled biomaterials.

This Research Topic aims to advance the state of the art in bioengineered bacterial cellulose (BC) by highlighting emerging strategies in production, functionalization, and application with a central focus on nanobiotechnology and nanomedicine. In particular, it explores how dual-microbial systems and complementary bioengineering approaches can be leveraged to template, nucleate, and hierarchically organize functional materials with controlled nanoscale features (e.g., fiber diameter, pore architecture, surface chemistry). Addressing persistent challenges in large-scale BC production and functionalization, the contributions to this Topic emphasize genetic and bioengineering solutions to enhance production efficiency and expand material functionality for nanobiomedical device integration and performance. These advances enable the development of engineered living materials (ELMs) with tunable properties for applications spanning nanostructured biomaterials, implantable and wearable biosensors, antimicrobial and immunomodulatory wound dressings, and regenerative medicine scaffolds. By bridging the gap between laboratory-scale innovation and real-world deployment, this Research Topic seeks to stimulate critical discussion on performance, scalability, sustainability, and bio-integration including nanocharacterization, safety-by-design, and translational/regulatory considerations for nano-enabled biomaterials. Through an interdisciplinary lens, it aims to push the frontiers of smart materials and synthetic biology, fostering the development of sustainable, bioinspired biomaterials that translate fundamental discoveries into impactful applications in biomedicine at the nanoscale.

This Research Topic focuses on bioengineered and functionalized bacterial cellulose (BC) as a foundational platform for engineered living materials (ELMs) and nanoengineered living biomaterials, at the interface of synthetic biology and materials science for nanobiotechnology-driven biomedical applications. Emphasis is placed on biologically driven material design, microbial and genetic engineering strategies, and dynamic control over structure, functionality, and performance from molecular-to-nanoscale interfaces through device-relevant function. Contributions should demonstrate how living or hybrid biological systems can be harnessed to create adaptive, responsive, and scalable cellulose-based material platforms that explicitly leverage nanoscale phenomena and provide quantitative nano/biomedical performance metrics.

In support of this interdisciplinary vision, we welcome original research articles, reviews, and perspectives addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
o Biologically informed design, synthesis, and characterization of multifunctional bacterial cellulose architectures with explicit nanoscale control and quantification (e.g., AFM/SEM/TEM, nanoindentation, nanoscale porosity/transport)
o Synthetic biology, genetic engineering, and dual-microbial systems for controlled cellulose biosynthesis and functionalization targeting nanobiomedical device requirements
o Living, hybrid, or bio-enabled templating and integration of functional inorganic or organic components within cellulose matrices including “smart” nanoparticles, nanostructured coatings, and nano-enabled sensing/actuation
o Structure–property–function relationships in engineered bacterial cellulose systems linking nanoscale features to biological outcomes (cell response, antimicrobial activity, tissue integration)
o Development of responsive and smart materials through biological and materials engineering approaches for nanobiosensors, nanodiagnostics, and intelligent drug delivery depots
o Sustainability, life-cycle assessment, and circular-economy considerations of bioengineered cellulose materials in the context of biomedical materials and devices
o Scalable biomanufacturing strategies and translational pathways for engineered living materials including safety evaluation, nanotoxicology considerations for nano-additives, and regulatory readiness for nanobiomedical products