Cellulose-based hydrogels: Present status and application prospects

This review addresses recent progress in cellulose-based hydrogels design and fabrication. Firstly, hydrogels fabricated directly from native cellulose (including bacterial cellulose) via cellulose dissolution are introduced. Secondly, cellulose hydrogels based on its derivatives, including methyl cellulose (MC), hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC), hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose (HPMC), and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), obtained by physical as well as chemical cross-linking strategies are considered. Thirdly, composite hydrogels prepared by using cellulose in conjunction with other polymers through blending, formation of polyelectrolyte complexes, and interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) technology are addressed. Finally, cellulose-inorganic hybrid hydrogels prepared by embedding inorganic nanoparticles in cellulose matrices are described and discussed. This review addresses the recent progress in cellulose based hydrogel designs and fabrication approaches, leading to the development of hydrogels from this class of carbohydrate polymers. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.