Cellulose-Based Composites in Hemostasis and Drug Delivery

Cellulose is a compelling platform for advanced therapeutic applications. This is by virtue of its inherent biocompatibility and its versatile chemical functionality. This chapter analyzes the engineering of various cellulose-based hemostats to promote rapid hemostasis and the controlled release of active pharmaceutical agents. For wound management, nanocellulose-based scaffolds such as aerogels can be engineered with customized porosity and surface charge for accelerating coagulation. TEMPO-mediated oxidation is a major example, which introduces anionic carboxyl groups that enhance the adhesion of platelets and hence facilitate the fibrin formation. The efficacy of clotting of the scaffolds can be augmented by the integration of other bioactive minerals such as diatomite. As for drug delivery, the controlled release of the drug can be attained by chemical derivatization. This yields compounds such as hydroxypropyl cellulose and ethyl cellulose. Swelling-controlled diffusion and matrix erosion are the mechanisms that allow for the precise alteration of the release of the API. This is facilitated by manipulating the polymer’s substituents, its degree of substitution and the overall matrix morphology. Hence, functionalized cellulose emerges as a versatile substrate for developing multifunctional technologies.