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][2].

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^[1:1]. By adding boron nitride nanosheets during synthesis, they created hybrid materials with even greater strength (553 MPa) and three times faster heat dissipation^[1:2].

“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^[2:1]. 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^[1:3]. The single-step process is scalable and could enable applications in structural materials, thermal management, packaging, textiles, green electronics and energy storage^[2:2].