Cellulose-Based Nanocomposites for Tissue Engineering

Cellulose, being the ubiquitous polysaccharide on earth, has received tremendous applications because of its abundant availability, renewability, biodegradability, biocompatibility, low toxicity, and good mechanical and chemical properties. However, it is worth noting that in its natural form, cellulose is rarely used for industrial applications. By exploiting it at the nanoscale level, cellulose-based nanocomposite can be prepared. Nanocomposites are materials that combine two or more components at the nanoscale level and can exhibit enhanced properties compared to their native components. The unique physicochemical properties of these nanocomposites include enhanced mechanical and thermal properties, such as increased stiffness, strength, toughness, high melting temperature, and better thermal stability. These nanocomposites are in high demand in biomedical fields such as wound healing, tissue engineering, 3D printing, drug delivery, medical implants, and many more. In this book chapter, we have summarized very briefly the synthesis of different nanocellulose and their properties, different methods used to fabricate cellulose nanocomposite, and their applications, especially in tissue engineering. Eventually, various challenges and the prospects of cellulose-based nanocomposite in tissue engineering are summarized.