Cellulose-based bionanocomposites: Synthesis, properties, and applications

Cellulose, the most common organic natural polymer, is mainly found in cotton fiber (90%) and wood (40–50%). It possesses good mechanical strength, bioreactivity, bioavailability, and biocompatibility. Cellulosic materials are widely used in biomedical applications as an alternative to conventional synthetic polymers. Particularly, nanocellulosic materials can be engineered to offer improved physicochemical characteristics and functionality concerning stability, surface modification, and reactivity toward a broad array of biomedical applications. Cellulose nanoparticles can be combined with metals, metal oxides, polymers, and carbon nanostructures as cellulose bionanocomposites, to confer enhanced mechanical stability, low toxicity, high bioreactivity, and bioavailability. The current chapter lays an outline concerning the synthesis and properties of cellulose bionanocomposites. It also collates and deliberates on the applications of cellulose bionanocomposites, particularly in biomedical fields.