Nanocellulose: Recent Advances Toward Biomedical Applications.

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Sustainable materials are crucial for improving living standards with reduced environmental impact.
• Nanocellulose, derived from abundant cellulose, possesses unique nanomaterial properties and favorable biological attributes.
• It has garnered significant interest for biomedical applications due to its surface chemistry and physical characteristics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To summarize recent advancements in nanocellulose-based biomedical materials.
• To highlight applications in biomolecule immobilization, drug delivery, cell culture, tissue engineering, antimicrobial strategies, wound healing, and biomedical implants.
• To discuss different nanocellulose subtypes, production, and future prospects.

Main Methods:

• Review of recent literature on nanocellulose in biomedical fields.
• Elaboration of key application areas with representative examples.
• Discussion of nanocellulose subtypes: cellulose nanofibers (CNFs), cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), and bacterial nanocellulose (BNC).

Main Results:

• Nanocellulose shows significant potential across various biomedical applications.
• Specific examples demonstrate the material design principles for different nanocellulose types.
• Advances in large-scale production and AI/ML acceleration are noted.

Conclusions:

• Nanocellulose is a versatile biomaterial with broad biomedical potential.
• Further development is expected in areas like drug delivery and tissue engineering.
• Addressing challenges in large-scale production and implementation is key for future success.