Recent advances in nanocellulose for biomedical applications

Nanocellulose materials have undergone rapid development in recent years as promising biomedical materials because of their excellent physical and biological properties, in particular their biocompatibility, biodegradability, and low cytotoxicity. Recently, a significant amount of research has been directed toward the fabrication of advanced cellulose nanofibers with different morphologies and functional properties. These nanocellulose fibers are widely applied in medical implants, tissue engineering, drug delivery, wound-healing, cardiovascular applications, and other medical applications. In this review, we reflect on recent advancements in the design and fabrication of advanced nanocellulose-based biomaterials (cellulose nanocrystals, bacterial nanocellulose, and cellulose nanofibrils) that are promising for biomedical applications and discuss material requirements for each application, along with the challenges that the materials might face. Finally, we give an overview on future directions of nanocellulose-based materials in the biomedical field. (c) 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 41719.