Cellulose and its potential applications in skin biology; a comprehensive review

Cellulose is the most abundant natural biopolymer obtained from plants, animals, and microbes. Cellulose is porous, biocompatible, biodegradable, noncytotoxic, and can retain water for a longer period. Therefore, cellulose has various applications in the medical, cosmetic, paper, and food industries. The current review summarizes the recent progress related to the application of cellulose in skin biology. Cellulose is preferable for skin biology applications due to its porosity, and hygroscopic nature that enables it to mimic the extracellular matrix (ECM) of native skin. Cellulose can be modified by combining with other biopolymers to make a functional cellulose composite. Researchers have developed various cellulose composites that are successfully used as wound dressing agents, scaffolds for skin tissue engineering, and vehicles for drug delivery like anticancer or other hydrophobic drugs. Cellulose-based facial masks act as a carrier for active agents like anti-aging, anti-wrinkle, and anti-acne substances. Cellulose can also be used as a stabilizer in the preparation of emulsion-based creams and other cosmetic products. It is concluded that cellulose is a suitable biopolymer in the global marketplace for skin applications, but further advancements should be made to maximize its clinical use.