Bacterial infections can cause not only poisoning of the blood, they also hinder the normal healing process. The interdisciplinary NanocellCare project at the Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany, is looking at the ability of gluconacetobacter bacteria to actually heal patients suffering from chronic wounds.

In a process developed and established in the working group of Dana Kralisch, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, gluconacetobacter bacteria synthesize nanocellulose.

Because of its nano-structure, nanocellulose has an extraordinarly large internal surface. This enables a very large water-holding capacity and the storage of active ingredients. The material can be easily applied to a wound and replaced pain-free. These properties make it especially well-suited for the treatment of chronic wounds.

Bacterially synthesized nanocellulose (BNC) substances combined with various active ingredients are now tested for use in wound care. The State of Thuringia, Germany, is supporting the research project over the coming two years with some EUR 400,000 from the European Fund for Regional Development.

Photo: (C) Jan-Peter Kasper/FSU

• White Biotechnology for Cellulose Manufacturing – The HoLiR Concept,
  D. Kralisch, N. Hessler, D. Klemm, R. Erdmann, W. Schmidt,
  Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2010, 105 (4), 740 – 747.
  DOI:
• Method for the production of bacterially synthesized cellulose and cellulose-containing material in a planar form
  D. Kralisch, N. Heßler, D. Klemm,
  WO 2010/028632
• Fermentation system for the production of bacterial cellulose or cellulosic surface materials
  W. Schmidt, N. Henkel, R. Erdmann, D. Kralisch, N. Hessler,
  WO 2010/029044