Issue 30, 2023

Nanocellulose-based hydrogels for drug delivery

Abstract

Hydrogels, as a class of three-dimensional (3D) polymer networks, are important candidates for drug delivery owing to their high porosity and hydrophilicity. Generally, clinical applications put forward various requirements for drug delivery systems (DDSs), such as low toxic side effects, high biocompatibility, targeting, controllable release, and high drug loading. In recent years, nanocellulose, including cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) and cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs), has emerged as a promising material for hydrogel-based DDSs. This is due to its high surface area, abundant surface hydroxyl groups that can be easily chemically modified for multifunctionalization, natural origin leading to high biocompatibility and degradability, etc. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the preparation methods for hydrogels based on CNCs/CNFs for use in drug delivery systems, including physical crosslinking and chemical crosslinking. Additionally, various carrier forms such as hydrogel particles, hydrogel films, injectable hydrogels, and sprayable hydrogels are discussed. Key drug delivery parameters including loading and release efficiency as well as responses to different stimuli are also examined in detail. Finally, in view of the subdivision of drug delivery, the opportunities and challenges of nano cellulose based hydrogels were proposed from the perspective of application, and the potential research directions were pointed out.

Graphical abstract: Nanocellulose-based hydrogels for drug delivery

Article information

Article type
Review Article
Submitted
06 Mrz 2023
Accepted
23 Mai 2023
First published
14 Jun 2023

J. Mater. Chem. B, 2023,11, 7004-7023

Nanocellulose-based hydrogels for drug delivery

Y. Ai, Z. Lin, W. Zhao, M. Cui, W. Qi, R. Huang and R. Su, J. Mater. Chem. B, 2023, 11, 7004 DOI: 10.1039/D3TB00478C

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements