Nanocellulose, a versatile platform: From the delivery of active molecules to tissue engineering applications

Abstract

Nanocellulose, a biopolymer, has received wide attention from researchers owing to its superior physicochemical properties, such as high mechanical strength, low density, biodegradability, and biocompatibility. Nanocellulose can be extracted from wide range of sources, including plants, bacteria, and algae. Depending on the extraction process and dimensions (diameter and length), they are categorized into three main types: cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs), and bacterial nanocellulose (BNC). CNCs are a highly crystalline and needle-like structure, whereas CNFs have both amorphous and crystalline regions in their network. BNC is the purest form of nanocellulose. The nanocellulose properties can be tuned by chemical functionalization, which increases its applicability in biomedical applications. This review highlights the fabrication of different surface-modified nanocellulose to deliver active molecules, such as drugs, proteins, and plasmids. Nanocellulose-mediated delivery of active molecules is profoundly affected by its topographical structure and the interaction between the loaded molecules and nanocellulose. The applications of nanocellulose and its composites in tissue engineering have been discussed. Finally, the review is concluded with further opportunities and challenges in nanocellulose-mediated delivery of active molecules.

Nanocellulose-Based Composite Materials Used in Drug Delivery Systems

“…Mechanical properties of nanocellulose (such as Young's modulus, tensile strength, and toughness) play an important role in sustained drug delivery systems [32]. Because of its disordered amorphous regions and ordered crystalline regions, nanocellulose-based composite materials have good mechanical properties [33,34]. The amorphous regions can contribute to the plasticity and flexibility of nanocellulose-based composite materials [35].…”

Hollow Filaments Synthesized by Dry-Jet Wet Spinning of Cellulose Nanofibrils: Structural Properties and Thermoregulation with Phase-Change Infills

“… 13 These and other properties are benefited from an extensive degree of fibrillation, 14 and simultaneous low-to-negligible cytotoxicity. 15 Hence, TOCNF spinning has been used to produce filaments for fire retardants, 16 wound dressing materials, cell cultivation scaffolds, 17 fiber-reinforced composites, 10 tissue engineering systems, 18 conductive fibers, 19 drug carriers, 20 , 21 and composites with phase-change materials (PCM). 22 …”

Antibacterial and wound healing applications of curcumin in micro and nano-scaffolds based on chitosan, cellulose, and collagen

“…Controlled and sustained release of curcumin is critical to achieving wound healing and antimicrobial effects at an appropriate time, wherein NMs of cellulose present an efficient option (34). Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) and cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) may be prepared via treatments of ball milling, acidic hydrolysis, chemical, and ultrasound from bacterial herbal, marine animals, and algal cellulose fibers (35). Modification of these NM is carried out by two main strategies including hydroxyl substitution (acetylation and TEMPO (2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl) oxidation) and polymer grafting through coupling agents and ring-opening (36).…”