Issue 32, 2024

Nanocellulose-based hydrogels as versatile materials with interesting functional properties for tissue engineering applications

Abstract

Tissue engineering has emerged as a remarkable field aiming to restore or replace damaged tissues through the use of biomimetic constructs. Among the diverse materials investigated for this purpose, nanocellulose-based hydrogels have garnered attention due to their intriguing biocompatibility, tunable mechanical properties, and sustainability. Over the past few years, numerous research works have been published focusing on the successful use of nanocellulose-based hydrogels as artificial extracellular matrices for regenerating various types of tissues. The review emphasizes the importance of tissue engineering, highlighting hydrogels as biomimetic scaffolds, and specifically focuses on the role of nanocellulose in composites that mimic the structures, properties, and functions of the native extracellular matrix for regenerating damaged tissues. It also summarizes the types of nanocellulose, as well as their structural, mechanical, and biological properties, and their contributions to enhancing the properties and characteristics of functional hydrogels for tissue engineering of skin, bone, cartilage, heart, nerves and blood vessels. Additionally, recent advancements in the application of nanocellulose-based hydrogels for tissue engineering have been evaluated and documented. The review also addresses the challenges encountered in their fabrication while exploring the potential future prospects of these hydrogel matrices for biomedical applications.

Graphical abstract: Nanocellulose-based hydrogels as versatile materials with interesting functional properties for tissue engineering applications

Article information

Article type
Review Article
Submitted
25 Feb 2024
Accepted
21 May 2024
First published
21 May 2024
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

J. Mater. Chem. B, 2024,12, 7692-7759

Nanocellulose-based hydrogels as versatile materials with interesting functional properties for tissue engineering applications

A. K. Tamo, J. Mater. Chem. B, 2024, 12, 7692 DOI: 10.1039/D4TB00397G

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