Structural properties of optically clear bacterial cellulose produced by Komagataeibacter hansenii using arabitol.

Bacterial cellulose (BC) exhibits beneficial properties for use in biomedical applications but is limited by its lack of tunable transparency capabilities. To overcome this deficiency, a novel method to synthesize transparent BC materials using an alternative carbon source, namely arabitol, was developed. Characterization of the BC pellicles was performed for yield, transparency, surface morphology, and molecular assembly.

saxs characterization of thermoresponsive behavior of a poly(ethylene glycol)-graft-(poly(vinyl caprolactam)-co-poly(vinyl acetate)) amphiphilic graft copolymer.

We report the thermoresponsive assembly and rheology of an amphiphilic thermosensitive graft copolymer, poly(ethylene glycol)-graft-(poly(vinyl caprolactam)--poly(vinyl acetate)) (commercial name Soluplus), which has been investigated for potential biomedical applications. It has received attention due to is ability to solubilize hydrophobic drugs and for its thickening behavior close to body temperature. Through use of the synchrotron at Brookhaven National Lab, and collaboration with the department of energy, the nanoscale structure and properties can be probed in greater detail.