Preparation and mineralization of three-dimensional carbon nanofibers from bacterial cellulose as potential scaffolds for bone tissue engineering

►3-D carbon nanofibers were successfully fabricated. ►Increased amount of COOH group formed on treated CNFs. ►Surface treatment of CNFs in nitric acid increased HAp nucleation and growth. ►HAp crystals formed on the as-prepared CNFs were needle-like while the surface-treated CNFs had some rod-like HAps.