Purpose: This paper presents a comprehensive review of nanocellulose and its application in several applications, including composites, biomedical, and food packaging fields. Design/methodology/approach: General explanations about cellulose and nanocellulose have been described. Different types of nanocellulose (cellulose nanofibers, cellulose nanocrystals, bacterial nanocellulose) as well as their isolation processes (mechanical process, chemical process) have been reviewed. Several surface modifications have been explained to improve the dispersion of nanocellulose in non-polar polymers. The possible utilization of nanocellulose in composites, biomedical, and food packaging fields have also been analysed. Findings: This review presents three application fields at once, namely composites, biomedical, and food packaging fields. In the composite field, nanocellulose can be used as a reinforcing agent which increases the mehcnical properties such as tensile strength and toughness, and thermal stability of the final composites. In the biomedical field, nanocellulose is reinforced into hydrogel or composites which will be produced as tissue scaffolding, wound dressing, etc. It is found that the addition of nanocellulose can extend and control the drug release. While in the packaging field, nanocellulose is added into a biopolymer to improve the barrier properties and decrease the water and oxygen vapor transmission rates. Research limitations/implications: Nanocellulose has a hydrophilic nature, thus making it agglomerated and difficult to disperse in most non-polar polymers. Therefore, certain surface modification of nanocellulose are required prior to the preparation of composites or hydrogels.Practical implications: Further research regarding the toxicity of nanocellulose needs to be investigated, especially when applying it in the biomedical and food packaging fields. Originality/value: This review presents three application fields at once, namely composites, biomedical, and food packaging fields.
In this study, nanocellulose is isolated from oil palm empty fruit bunches using ultrafine grinding and ultrasonication. Here, nanocellulose, a reinforcing agent, is mixed with polyvinyl alcohol and sodium alginate, which act as the matrices. Nanocellulose‐based fibers are produced via the wet spinning method using calcium chloride as a coagulant solvent. The effects of the nanocellulose content on the morphological, mechanical, and in vitro biocompatibility properties of the produced fibers are then examined, with the results demonstrating that the increase in nanocellulose content produces fibers with a rougher cross‐section and higher tensile strength with the addition of nanocellulose up to 3%. Meanwhile, the crystallinity of the fibers increases with the addition of nanocellulose content of up to 5%. The addition of 1% nanocellulose produce fibers with better in vitro biocompatibility, which is confirmed by the higher cell viability and lower inhibition.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.