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Nanomaterials
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Synthesis, Applications and Biological Impact of Nanocellulose
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Synthesis, Applications and Biological Impact of Nanocellulose

A special issue of Nanomaterials (ISSN 2079-4991). This special issue belongs to the section "Synthesis, Interfaces and Nanostructures".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2022) | Viewed by 30311

Printed Edition Available!
A printed edition of this Special Issue is available here.

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Rajesh Sunasee

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Guest Editor
Department of Chemistry, State University of New York at Plattsburgh, 101 Broad Street, Plattsburgh, New York, NY 12901, USA
Interests: nanochemistry; cellulose nanocrystals; surface modification; design of functional materials; synthesis; characterization; biomedical applications; vaccine nanoadjuvants
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Karina Ckless

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Chemistry, State University of New York at Plattsburgh, 101 Broad Street, Plattsburgh, New York, NY 12901, USA
Interests: redox biology; immune response; immunomodulation; cytotoxicity; vaccine adjuvants; cellulose nanocrystals; biomedical application of nanomaterials

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Interest in nanocellulose research has continued to increase dramatically in the past few years with advances in the preparation/extraction of nanocellulose, such as cellulose nanocrystals (CNC), cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) and bacterial nanocellulose (BNC). There have also been significant developments in the fabrication of functional nanocellulose-based materials for various industrial applications. As a result of their excellent physical and biological properties, they have emerged as promising materials for biomedical applications, including tissue engineering and medical implants, therapeutic delivery systems and antimicrobial/antibacterial agents, among others. To move the nano biomedical field forward, it is crucial to develop a solid understanding of the biological impacts of nanocellulose, including toxicity and genotoxicity, as well as potential immune responses elicited by these nanomaterials.

This Special Issue aims to cover topics such as recent advances in the synthesis of nanocellulose, surface modifications for the design of functional nanocellulose as well as applications and biological impacts. Manuscripts presenting innovative methods of preparation, design of new advanced nanocellulose-based materials and biomedical applications are most welcome.

Dr. Rajesh Sunasee
Dr. Karina Ckless
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Nanomaterials is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • nanocellulose
  • cellulose nanocrystals (CNC)
  • cellulose nanofibrils (CNF)
  • bacterial nanocellulose (BNC)
  • synthesis of nanocellulose
  • surface modifications
  • characterization methods
  • applications
  • biological impacts (toxicity, genotoxicity, immunomodulation)

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Editorial

Jump to: Research, Review

3 pages, 178 KiB  
Editorial
Synthesis, Applications and Biological Impact of Nanocellulose
by Rajesh Sunasee and Karina Ckless
Nanomaterials 2022, 12(18), 3188; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12183188 - 14 Sep 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1814
Abstract
Interest in cellulose-based nanomaterials has continued to increase dramatically in the past few years, especially with advances in the production routes of nanocellulose—such as cellulose nanocrystals (CNC), cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) and bacterial nanocellulose (BNC)—that tailor their performances [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Synthesis, Applications and Biological Impact of Nanocellulose)

Research

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20 pages, 5533 KiB  
Article
Tracking Bacterial Nanocellulose in Animal Tissues by Fluorescence Microscopy
by Renato Mota, Ana Cristina Rodrigues, Ricardo Silva-Carvalho, Lígia Costa, Daniela Martins, Paula Sampaio, Fernando Dourado and Miguel Gama
Nanomaterials 2022, 12(15), 2605; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12152605 - 28 Jul 2022
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2387
Abstract
The potential of nanomaterials in food technology is nowadays well-established. However, their commercial use requires a careful risk assessment, in particular concerning the fate of nanomaterials in the human body. Bacterial nanocellulose (BNC), a nanofibrillar polysaccharide, has been used as a food product [...] Read more.
The potential of nanomaterials in food technology is nowadays well-established. However, their commercial use requires a careful risk assessment, in particular concerning the fate of nanomaterials in the human body. Bacterial nanocellulose (BNC), a nanofibrillar polysaccharide, has been used as a food product for many years in Asia. However, given its nano-character, several toxicological studies must be performed, according to the European Food Safety Agency’s guidance. Those should especially answer the question of whether nanoparticulate cellulose is absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract. This raises the need to develop a screening technique capable of detecting isolated nanosized particles in biological tissues. Herein, the potential of a cellulose-binding module fused to a green fluorescent protein (GFP–CBM) to detect single bacterial cellulose nanocrystals (BCNC) obtained by acid hydrolysis was assessed. Adsorption studies were performed to characterize the interaction of GFP–CBM with BNC and BCNC. Correlative electron light microscopy was used to demonstrate that isolated BCNC may be detected by fluorescence microscopy. The uptake of BCNC by macrophages was also assessed. Finally, an exploratory 21-day repeated-dose study was performed, wherein Wistar rats were fed daily with BNC. The presence of BNC or BCNC throughout the GIT was observed only in the intestinal lumen, suggesting that cellulose particles were not absorbed. While a more comprehensive toxicological study is necessary, these results strengthen the idea that BNC can be considered a safe food additive. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Synthesis, Applications and Biological Impact of Nanocellulose)
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14 pages, 1976 KiB  
Article
Date-Palm-Derived Cellulose Nanocrystals as Reinforcing Agents for Poly(vinyl alcohol)/Guar-Gum-Based Phase-Separated Composite Films
by Hamid M. Shaikh, Arfat Anis, Anesh Manjaly Poulose, Niyaz Ahamad Madhar and Saeed M. Al-Zahrani
Nanomaterials 2022, 12(7), 1104; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12071104 - 27 Mar 2022
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2515
Abstract
The current study delineates the use of date-palm-derived cellulose nanocrystals (dp-CNCs) as reinforcing agents. dp-CNCs were incorporated in varying amounts to poly(vinyl alcohol)/guar-gum-based phase-separated composite films. The films were prepared by using the solution casting method, which employed glutaraldehyde as the crosslinking agent. [...] Read more.
The current study delineates the use of date-palm-derived cellulose nanocrystals (dp-CNCs) as reinforcing agents. dp-CNCs were incorporated in varying amounts to poly(vinyl alcohol)/guar-gum-based phase-separated composite films. The films were prepared by using the solution casting method, which employed glutaraldehyde as the crosslinking agent. Subsequently, the films were characterized by bright field and polarizing microscopy, UV-Vis spectroscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, and mechanical study. The microscopic techniques suggested that phase-separated films were formed, whose microstructure could be tailored by incorporating dp-CNCs. At higher levels of dp-CNC content, microcracks could be observed in the films. The transparency of the phase-separated films was not significantly altered when the dp-CNC content was on the lower side. FTIR spectroscopy suggested the presence of hydrogen bonding within the phase-separated films. dp-CNCs showed reinforcing effects at the lowest amount, whereas the mechanical properties of the films were compromised at higher dp-CNC content. Moxifloxacin was included in the films to determine the capability of the films as a drug delivery vehicle. It was found that the release of the drug could be tailored by altering the dp-CNC content within the phase-separated films. In gist, the developed dp-CNC-loaded poly(vinyl alcohol)/guar-gum-based phase-separated composite films could be explored as a drug delivery vehicle. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Synthesis, Applications and Biological Impact of Nanocellulose)
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12 pages, 1186 KiB  
Article
Vascular and Blood Compatibility of Engineered Cationic Cellulose Nanocrystals in Cell-Based Assays
by Alexandre Bernier, Tanner Tobias, Hoang Nguyen, Shreshth Kumar, Beza Tuga, Yusha Imtiaz, Christopher W. Smith, Rajesh Sunasee and Karina Ckless
Nanomaterials 2021, 11(8), 2072; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11082072 - 15 Aug 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3659
Abstract
An emerging interest regarding nanoparticles (NPs) concerns their potential immunomodulatory and pro-inflammatory activities, as well as their impact in the circulatory system. These biological activities of NPs can be related to the intensity and type of the responses, which can raise concerns about [...] Read more.
An emerging interest regarding nanoparticles (NPs) concerns their potential immunomodulatory and pro-inflammatory activities, as well as their impact in the circulatory system. These biological activities of NPs can be related to the intensity and type of the responses, which can raise concerns about adverse side effects and limit the biomedical applicability of these nanomaterials. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of a library of cationic cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) in the human blood and endothelial cells using cell-based assays. First, we evaluated whether the cationic CNCs would cause hemolysis and aggregation or alteration on the morphology of red blood cells (RBC). We observed that although these nanomaterials did not alter RBC morphology or cause aggregation, at 24 h exposure, a mild hemolysis was detected mainly with unmodified CNCs. Then, we analyzed the effect of various concentrations of CNCs on the cell viability of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) in a time-dependent manner. None of the cationic CNCs caused a dose-response decrease in the cell viability of HUVEC at 24 h or 48 h of exposure. The findings of this study, together with the immunomodulatory properties of these cationic CNCs previously published, support the development of engineered cationic CNCs for biomedical applications, in particular as vaccine nanoadjuvants. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Synthesis, Applications and Biological Impact of Nanocellulose)
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24 pages, 18293 KiB  
Article
Comparative Evaluation on Impacts of Fibronectin, Heparin–Chitosan, and Albumin Coating of Bacterial Nanocellulose Small-Diameter Vascular Grafts on Endothelialization In Vitro
by Max Wacker, Jan Riedel, Heike Walles, Maximilian Scherner, George Awad, Sam Varghese, Sebastian Schürlein, Bernd Garke, Priya Veluswamy, Jens Wippermann and Jörn Hülsmann
Nanomaterials 2021, 11(8), 1952; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11081952 - 29 Jul 2021
Cited by 17 | Viewed by 3696
Abstract
In this study, we contrast the impacts of surface coating bacterial nanocellulose small-diameter vascular grafts (BNC-SDVGs) with human albumin, fibronectin, or heparin–chitosan upon endothelialization with human saphenous vein endothelial cells (VEC) or endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) in vitro. In one scenario, coated grafts [...] Read more.
In this study, we contrast the impacts of surface coating bacterial nanocellulose small-diameter vascular grafts (BNC-SDVGs) with human albumin, fibronectin, or heparin–chitosan upon endothelialization with human saphenous vein endothelial cells (VEC) or endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) in vitro. In one scenario, coated grafts were cut into 2D circular patches for static colonization of a defined inner surface area; in another scenario, they were mounted on a customized bioreactor and subsequently perfused for cell seeding. We evaluated the colonization by emerging metabolic activity and the preservation of endothelial functionality by water soluble tetrazolium salts (WST-1), acetylated low-density lipoprotein (AcLDL) uptake assays, and immune fluorescence staining. Uncoated BNC scaffolds served as controls. The fibronectin coating significantly promoted adhesion and growth of VECs and EPCs, while albumin only promoted adhesion of VECs, but here, the cells were functionally impaired as indicated by missing AcLDL uptake. The heparin–chitosan coating led to significantly improved adhesion of EPCs, but not VECs. In summary, both fibronectin and heparin–chitosan coatings could beneficially impact the endothelialization of BNC-SDVGs and might therefore represent promising approaches to help improve the longevity and reduce the thrombogenicity of BNC-SDVGs in the future. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Synthesis, Applications and Biological Impact of Nanocellulose)
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Review

Jump to: Editorial, Research

24 pages, 17456 KiB  
Review
3D-Printable Nanocellulose-Based Functional Materials: Fundamentals and Applications
by Abraham Samuel Finny, Oluwatosin Popoola and Silvana Andreescu
Nanomaterials 2021, 11(9), 2358; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11092358 - 11 Sep 2021
Cited by 38 | Viewed by 6997
Abstract
Nanomaterials obtained from sustainable and natural sources have seen tremendous growth in recent times due to increasing interest in utilizing readily and widely available resources. Nanocellulose materials extracted from renewable biomasses hold great promise for increasing the sustainability of conventional materials in various [...] Read more.
Nanomaterials obtained from sustainable and natural sources have seen tremendous growth in recent times due to increasing interest in utilizing readily and widely available resources. Nanocellulose materials extracted from renewable biomasses hold great promise for increasing the sustainability of conventional materials in various applications owing to their biocompatibility, mechanical properties, ease of functionalization, and high abundance. Nanocellulose can be used to reinforce mechanical strength, impart antimicrobial activity, provide lighter, biodegradable, and more robust materials for packaging, and produce photochromic and electrochromic devices. While the fabrication and properties of nanocellulose are generally well established, their implementation in novel products and applications requires surface modification, assembly, and manufacturability to enable rapid tooling and scalable production. Additive manufacturing techniques such as 3D printing can improve functionality and enhance the ability to customize products while reducing fabrication time and wastage of materials. This review article provides an overview of nanocellulose as a sustainable material, covering the different properties, preparation methods, printability and strategies to functionalize nanocellulose into 3D-printed constructs. The applications of 3D-printed nanocellulose composites in food, environmental, and energy devices are outlined, and an overview of challenges and opportunities is provided. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Synthesis, Applications and Biological Impact of Nanocellulose)
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32 pages, 5464 KiB  
Review
Preparation and Surface Functionalization of Carboxylated Cellulose Nanocrystals
by Edmond Lam and Usha D. Hemraz
Nanomaterials 2021, 11(7), 1641; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano11071641 - 22 Jun 2021
Cited by 33 | Viewed by 7698
Abstract
In recent years, cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) have emerged as a leading biomass-based nanomaterial owing to their unique functional properties and sustainable resourcing. Sulfated cellulose nanocrystals (sCNCs), produced by sulfuric acid-assisted hydrolysis of cellulose, is currently the predominant form of this class of nanomaterial; [...] Read more.
In recent years, cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) have emerged as a leading biomass-based nanomaterial owing to their unique functional properties and sustainable resourcing. Sulfated cellulose nanocrystals (sCNCs), produced by sulfuric acid-assisted hydrolysis of cellulose, is currently the predominant form of this class of nanomaterial; its utilization leads the way in terms of CNC commercialization activities and industrial applications. The functional properties, including high crystallinity, colloidal stability, and uniform nanoscale dimensions, can also be attained through carboxylated cellulose nanocrystals (cCNCs). Herein, we review recent progress in methods and feedstock materials for producing cCNCs, describe their functional properties, and discuss the initial successes in their applications. Comparisons are made to sCNCs to highlight some of the inherent advantages that cCNCs may possess in similar applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Synthesis, Applications and Biological Impact of Nanocellulose)
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