A novel polysaccharide membrane containing alginate in bacterial cellulose matrix was synthesized by Acetobacter xylinum under static conditions using a culture medium supplementation with sodium alginate. By increasing alginate content, the bacterial cellulose-alginate (BCA) membrane was more hydrophilic and the film structure became denser with the smaller average pore size. Scanning electron microscope images displayed the deposits of alginate gel on the surfaces of the multilayer cellulose film. The declines in the tensile strength, the Young's modulus, and the elongation at break of the BCA membrane were dependent on the degree of alginate supplement. The BCA membrane showed higher water absorption capacity. The addition of alginate slightly affected the water vapor transmission rate but remarkably decreased the oxygen transmission rate of the membrane. (C) 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 115: 1581-1588, 2010