Composite Films Based on Bacterial Cellulose and Nanocrystals of Hydroxyapatite: Morphology, Structure, and Properties

A new composite material that is a layered film based on cellulose obtained by static cultivation of Komagataeibacter rhaeticus and hydroxyapatite nanocrystals was studied. Samples with a mass ratio of cellulose and hydroxyapatite of 1 : 25, 1 : 4, and 1 : 1 were obtained in two ways—joint disintegration of aqueous suspensions of nanocrystals of hydroxyapatite with macrofragmented bacterial cellulose nanogel film and synthesis of hydroxyapatite nanocrystals in a suspension of disintegrated bacterial cellulose. It is shown that, regardless of the method, an increase in the proportion of cellulose leads to an increase in the density of the composite material, the degree of texturing, the Young’s modulus, and tensile strength, as well as a decrease in porosity and pore volume. Analysis of cytotoxicity carried out on fibroblasts isolated from the subcutaneous connective tissue cells of C3H/An mice demonstrated the absence of cytotoxicity of the films studied.