Development of Novel CMC Nonwoven Sheets and Their Biomedical Applications

Nonwoven sheets are membranes that are bonded together by entangled fibers. They are widely used in medical field, including surgical masks. Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) is a cellulose derivative in which some of the hydroxyl groups in the cellulose backbone are substituted into carboxymethyl groups. CMC possesses high biocompatibility, and its property can be tuned by various factors, such as degree of substitution and type of counter ions. Based on a novel CMC nonwoven sheet developed by Asahi Kasei Corporation, we have investigated its applications in the biomedical field. In this review, our attempts in developing the CMC nonwoven sheet-based topical hemostatic agent, scaffold for bone regeneration, and wound dressing will be introduced.