Multifunctional hybrid materials based on bacterial cellulose

Abstract

The development of biohybrid materials represents an emerging and interdisciplinary research area in the field of Material Science. Biohybrid nanomaterials, combine the properties of inorganic nano-objects with the low environmental impact of biodegradable materials, making them a topic of current interest.Taking above into account many researchers have employed bacterial cellulose matrix as a template for preparation of biohybrid inorganic/organic nanocomposites that gather together the excellent properties of bacterial cellulose with the properties displayed by inorganic nanoparticles such as optic, photorefractive and photochromic properties.The aim of this investigation work is the development and characterization of multifunctional biohybrid inorganic/organic composites based on bacterial cellulose and lanthanide doped sol-gel synthesized nanoparticles. The incorporation of lanthanide doped sol-gel synthesized nanoparticles to bacterial cellulose matrix can open the possibility to design novel advanced materials with tuneable properties and promising applications in a wide range of areas. It should be pointed out that Prof. Agnieszka Tercjak has stayed for two months (09/09/2013-09/11/2013) in the Photonic Materials Group´s headed by Prof. Sidney J. L. Ribeiro in Institute of Chemistry of the São Paulo State University (UNESP) in Araraquara, São Paulo, Brazil. During her stay she has given the post-graduate course entitled: "Introduction to the Atomic Force Microscopy. Background and applications." The research work done during this period gives her opportunity to published 1 book chapters (see CV of candidate), prepared 1 patent, 6 international conferences (see CV of candidate) and 2 papers in preparation). Taken into account that the postgraduate course was succeed, we propose also 2 weeks postgraduate course (30hours) entitled ¨Polymeric Nanocomposite¨. (AU)