Recent Progress in Polysaccharide Aerogels: Their Synthesis, Application, and Future Outlook

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Porous polysaccharides, including cellulose and chitosan, are gaining attention for their sustainable and biocompatible properties.
• Their unique characteristics make them suitable for fabricating advanced porous structures like aerogels.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent advancements in porous polysaccharide aerogels, focusing on cellulose and chitosan.
• To explore their synthesis, applications, and future commercialization prospects.

Main Methods:

• Detailed review of polysaccharide aerogel synthesis, emphasizing drying techniques.
• Comparative analysis of supercritical CO2 and freeze-drying methods for aerogel formation.
• Exploration of current applications and limitations.

Main Results:

• Polysaccharide aerogels demonstrate significant potential in diverse applications.
• Understanding the synthesis process, particularly drying, is crucial for aerogel properties.
• Cellulose and chitosan are key polysaccharides for aerogel development.

Conclusions:

• Porous polysaccharide aerogels offer sustainable solutions for various technological challenges.
• Further research into synthesis optimization and application-specific design is needed for commercialization.