Antimicrobial bacterial cellulose/poly(2-aminoethyl methacrylate) nanocomposites were prepared by in situ radical polymerization of 2-aminoethyl methacrylate, using variable amounts of N,N-methylenebis(acrylamide) as cross-linker. The obtained nanocomposites were characterized in terms of their structure, morphology, thermal stability, mechanical properties and antibacterial activity and showed to be significantly more transparent than BC and with improved thermal and mechanical properties, in comparison with the pristine polymers. The antibacterial activity of the obtained nanocomposites was assessed towards bioluminescent Escherichia coli from which only the non-crosslinked nanocomposite (BC/PAEM) showed to have antibacterial activity.