Do bacterial cellulose membranes have potential in drug-delivery systems?
BACKGROUND
Bacterial cellulose (BC) is an extremely pure form of cellulose, which, due to its unique properties, such as high purity, water-holding capacity, three-dimensional nanofibrilar network, mechanical strength, biodegradability and biocompatibility, shows a high potential as nanomaterial in a wide range of high-tech domains including biomedical applications, and most notably in controlled drug-delivery systems.


METHODS
This appraisal is intended to cover the major characteristics of BC, followed by the key aspects of BC production both in static and agitated conditions, and a glance of the major applications of BC, giving some emphasis to biomedical applications. Finally, a detailed discussion of the different applications of BC in controlled drug-delivery systems will be put forward, with focus on topical and oral drug-delivery systems, using either native BC or composite materials thereof.


CONCLUSIONS
The limited number of studies carried out so far demonstrated that BC, or materials prepared from it, are interesting materials for drug-delivery systems. There is, however, a large field of systematic research ahead to develop new and more selectively responsive materials and eventually to conjugate them with other biomedical applications of BC under development.
University of Aveiro, CICECO and Department of Chemistry , 3810-193 Aveiro , Portugal +351 234 370 711 ; armsil@ua.pt.
Armando J D
AJ
Silvestre
Carmen S R
CS
Freire
Carlos P
CP
Neto
D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000737:chemistry*; D002482:Cellulose / Q000737:chemistry*; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D006801:Humans; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties
D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial; D002482:Cellulose
bacterial cellulose; controlled drug delivery; dermal delivery system applications; nanocomposites; oral delivery system applications