Scientists at Rice University and the University of Houston have developed a groundbreaking technique to create stronger, more versatile bacterial cellulose by controlling how bacteria align cellulose fibers during growth[^1][^3].

The research team designed a rotational culture device that uses fluid flow to guide bacteria as they produce cellulose, resulting in aligned nanofibers with tensile strength up to 436 MPa - comparable to some metals and glasses[^1]. By adding boron nitride nanosheets during synthesis, they created hybrid materials with even greater strength (553 MPa) and three times faster heat dissipation[^1].

"Our approach involved developing a rotational bioreactor that directs the movement of cellulose-producing bacteria, aligning their motion during growth," said M.A.S.R. Saadi, the study's first author[^3]. The resulting material is flexible, foldable, transparent and environmentally friendly.

The breakthrough, published in Nature Communications in July 2025, offers a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based plastics[^1]. The single-step process is scalable and could enable applications in structural materials, thermal management, packaging, textiles, green electronics and energy storage[^3].

[^1]: Nature Communications - Flow-induced 2D nanomaterials intercalated aligned bacterial cellulose

[^3]: ScienceDaily - Goodbye plastic? Scientists create new supermaterial that outperforms metals and glass