Advances in biomedical and pharmaceutical applications of functional bacterial cellulose-based nanocomposites.
Bacterial cellulose (BC) synthesized by certain species of bacteria, is a fascinating biopolymer with unique physical and mechanical properties. BC's applications range from traditional dessert, gelling, stabilizing and thickening agent in the food industry to advanced high-tech applications, such as immobilization of enzymes, bacteria and fungi, tissue engineering, heart valve prosthesis, artificial blood vessels, bone, cartilage, cornea and skin, and dental root treatment. Various BC-composites have been designed and investigated in order to enhance its biological applicability. This review focuses on the application of BC-based composites for microbial control, wound dressing, cardiovascular, ophthalmic, skeletal, and endodontics systems. Moreover, applications in controlled drug delivery, biosensors/bioanalysis, immobilization of enzymes and cells, stem cell therapy and skin tissue repair are also highlighted. This review will provide new insights for academia and industry to further assess the BC-based composites in terms of practical applications and future commercialization for biomedical and pharmaceutical purposes.
Department of Pharmacy, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Abbottabad 22060, Pakistan; Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland.
Hanif
H
Ullah
Biotechnology Program, Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Abbottabad 22060, Pakistan.
Fazli
F
Wahid
Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland. Electronic address: helder.santos@helsinki.fi.
Hélder A
HA
Santos
Department of Pharmacy, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Abbottabad 22060, Pakistan. Electronic address: taouskhan@ciit.net.pk.
Taous
T
Khan
D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000737:chemistry*; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D057005:Bioengineering; D002482:Cellulose / Q000737:chemistry*; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000737:chemistry*
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D004337:Drug Carriers; D002482:Cellulose
Bacterial cellulose; Bioengineering; Biomedical application; Composites; Nanocellulose