Artificial Cellulose Synthesizing Machinery for Bottom-up Nanocellulose Manufacturing

Cellulose, the most abundant and renewable biopolymer on Earth, plays a critical role in numerous industries, from textiles and packaging to construction and electronics. Its exceptional mechanical strength, stability, and renewability make it a versatile material with immense potential for driving sustainable innovations. These remarkable properties are rooted in the unique hierarchical structure of cellulose and the crystalline nature of its nanofibers, termed cellulose microfibrils. Despite its importance and the fact that this material has been used since the beginning of human civilization, the intricate molecular processes behind its biosynthesis, carried out by cellulose synthase complexes, remain poorly understood. This fundamental gap of knowledge limits our ability to fully harness cellulose for advanced applications.In this project, I aim to unravel the elusive biocrystallisation mechanism of cellulose microfibrils using a material science approach. Leveraging advanced electron microscopy and molecular modelling, I will identify key physicochemical factors that control the assembly of cellulose molecules into crystalline cellulose microfibrils in natural systems. Building on the mechanistic understanding of the crystallization process, I will develop a novel synthetic platform for cellulose nanomaterial manufacturing by reconstructing the cellulose synthase complex machinery on the engineered surfaces. This approach will enable precise control over the cellulose synthase complexes’ structure and their physicochemical environment, facilitating the fabrication of cellulose nanoparticles with tuneable properties and nanoscale morphologies that surpass the capabilities of both natural biosynthesis and synthetic methods.