earticle

영어

Nanocellulose, which can exist as either cellulose nanocrystals or cellulose nanofibrils, has been used as a biomaterial for drug delivery owing to its non-immunogenicity, biocompatibility, high specific area, good mechanical properties, and variability for chemical modification. Various water-soluble drugs can be bound to and released from nanocelluloses through electrostatic interactions. The high specific surface area of nanocellulose allows for high specific drug loading. Additionally, a broad spectrum of drugs can bind to nanocellulose after facile chemical modifications of its surface. Controlled release can be achieved for various pharmaceuticals when the nanocellulose surface is chemically modified or physically formulated in an adequate manner. This review summarizes the potential applications of nanocelluloses in drug delivery according to published studies on drug delivery systems.