Nanocellulose Scaffolds for Skin Tissue Engineering

Skin tissue regeneration is a vital and challenging aspect of regenerative medicine. The development of innovative biomaterials has expanded tissue engineering options, including theuse of nanocellulose as a scaffold material. Nanocellulose is defined as cellulose in the form of nanostructures, or at least one dimension smaller than 100 nm. Nanocellulose is a naturally occurring substance that may be obtained from various sources, including microorganisms and plant-based substances like wood. It is a promising biomaterial that has garnered interest as a scaffold in the field of skin tissue engineering due to its unique properties such as high mechanical strength, high surface area, tunable porosity and biocompatibility. Nanocellulose scaffolds have been demonstrated to support the growth and differentiation of many skin cell types, including keratinocytes, fibroblasts, and endothelial cells in vitro. They have also been shown to improve wound healing and skin regeneration in animal models. This chapter discusses various synthesis methods of nanocellulose scaffolds, their structural features, and their emerging applications in skin tissue regeneration and wound healing. The chapter also covers the current status of research, obstacles, and future prospects of nanocellulose scaffolds for skin tissue engineering.