The use of bacterial cellulose as a technical textile

The aim of the project is to establish optimal growth conditions to create a reproducible substrate from a bacterial cellulose starter culture and explore the versality of this as a technical textile material. The work to date has evaluated the effectiveness of different starter cultures and media to ‘grow’ fabric. The resultant material has been analysed using genomic (PCR) sequencing and scanning electron microscope techniques to illustrate the impact of varying growing environments and how these can be engineered for specific textile applications.

Outputs

• Wood J. (2020), Biobased Materials in Sportswear Applications, Encyclopedia of Renewable and Sustainable Materials, Elsevier, [online] www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780128035818109828
• Wood, J. (2019), BioInspiration in Fashion – A Review, Biomimetics, Vol 4, No 1,  [online], doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics4010016
• Wood, J. (2017), Are Microbes the Future of Fashion, Journal of the Society of Applied Microbiology, Vol 18, No 2.

Impact

The project crosses over the boundaries between textile technology and microbiology. A poster presentation of early stage work was shortlisted for the STEM for Britain awards in 2017 (displayed at Portcullis House, Houses of Parliament, London) and a further poster presentation won ‘Best BioInspired Material’ at the conference of the same name in 2017. Some of the materials developed were used as part of a public workshop ‘Hats off to vLeather!’ as part of the 2017 Manchester Science Festival, with some of the work created displayed at the Manchester Digital Cities event. The work was also featured in a round table discussion event ‘Microbiology and Art’ in Manchester which discussed the overlapping boundaries of science and creative arts.

Funding

MMU internal funding

Research Led Training

BA Fashion Design & Technology: Level 6 Fashion Cultures 3 unit; MA Fashion Buying and Business Management: Level 7 Product and Perform units.