Nanocellulose for Drug Delivery: From Design to Application

Dear Colleagues,

Bacterial nanocellulose (BNC, also called bacterial cellulose or microbial cellulose) is a fascinating, naturally derived hydropolymer with many potential fields of innovative application. Among them, drug carrier systems are one of the most promising, since the unique combination properties of BNC (e.g., biocompatibility, no allergenic potential, purity, high surface/volume ratio, 3D network structure, high liquid uptake and retention capacity in combination with its mechanical stability) allows for the design of controlled drug delivery systems (DDS) well suited for oral as well as dermal applications. BNC itself is generated by several strains of acetic acid bacteria and can be produced today under industrial conditions. The material consists of pure cellulose fibers, which are connected in a three-dimensional nanostructured fiber network if cultivated under static conditions. Functionalizing, compositing, loading, pressing, drying, and coating those fibers are some of many methods applied to develop tailor-made DDS based on the native material. Although numerous scientific studies have already been published on this topic, there are still many questions left to be answered, information to be discovered, and ideas to be transferred from the laboratory into advanced products. We invite you to take part on this journey!

This Special Issue of Nanomaterials, “Nanocellulose for Drug Delivery: From Design to Application”, aims at collecting a compilation of articles that addresses both the open challenges and latest achievements in the development of BNC-based DDS. Investigations covering all stages of the development process, ranging from fundamental understanding of drug and matrix interactions and release mechanisms to the transfer of most promising developments into product development and (pre-)clinical studies are kindly invited in order to showcase the current momentum. We are looking forward to receiving your valuable contribution in the form of reviews, communications, and academic articles!

Dr. Dana Kralisch
Prof. Dr. Dagmar Fischer
Guest Editor

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