Self-Assembled Hydroxypropyl Celluloses With Structural Colors for Biomedical Applications

Hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC), a cellulose derivative with biocompatibility, edibility, and exceptional solubility in many polar solvents, holds significant potential for biomedical applications. Within a specific concentration range, HPC undergoes self-assembly to form cholesteric liquid crystals, which display distinct structural colors. These colors result from the interaction between incident light and the periodic nano-architecture of HPC, providing long-lasting visual effects that can be dynamically adjusted by factors such as concentration, temperature, and functional additives. This review includes the mechanisms underlying the genesis of structural colors and the regulation of HPCs while summarizing advanced techniques for fabricating HPC-based materials with diverse configurations. Furthermore, through representative examples, we highlight the multifaceted applications of these materials in sensors, bionic skins, drug delivery, and anti-counterfeiting labels. We also propose strategies to address current research and application challenges with the goal of exploring the potential of structural color HPCs for scientific breakthroughs and societal well-being. We hope this review catalyzes HPC-based structural color materials' advancement and future biomedical applications.