Cellulose and Chitosan: Characterization, Modification and Application

Dear Colleagues,

Cellulose and chitosan are two abundant biopolymers with unique properties that make them highly attractive for a wide range of applications in various fields, including biomedicine, food packaging, wastewater treatment, and more. Cellulose, derived from plant cell walls, is the most abundant renewable polymer on Earth, known for its biodegradability, mechanical strength, and versatility. Chitosan, derived from chitin, is found in the exoskeletons of crustaceans and insects, and possesses antimicrobial properties, biocompatibility, and biodegradability.

Cellulose and chitosan are both polysaccharides, which are long chains of sugar molecules. Cellulose is composed of repeating units of glucose, linked together by beta-1,4 glycosidic bonds. This linear structure gives cellulose its strength and rigidity, making it a key component of plant cell walls.

Chitosan, on the other hand, is derived from chitin through deacetylation. Chitin is also a polysaccharide, but it is composed of N-acetylglucosamine units linked by beta-1,4 glycosidic bonds. When chitin is deacetylated, some of the acetyl groups are removed, resulting in chitosan, which has a similar structure to cellulose but with additional amino groups. The presence of these amino groups in chitosan gives it unique properties, such as antimicrobial activity and the ability to form films and gels. Both cellulose and chitosan are biodegradable and biocompatible, making them attractive materials for various applications, including biomedical and environmental.

This Special Issue aims to showcase the latest research and developments in the characterization, modification, and application of cellulose- and chitosan-based materials. The scope includes, but is not limited to, novel methods for the extraction and purification of cellulose and chitosan, characterization techniques such as spectroscopic, microscopic, and thermal analysis, and chemical and physical modifications to enhance their properties and functionalities. Additionally, the issue will cover biocompatibility and biodegradability studies, alongside applications in drug delivery, tissue engineering, wound healing, and other biomedical fields as well as sustainable packaging materials, water treatment technologies, and composite materials.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Novel methods for the extraction and purification of cellulose and chitosan;
• Characterization techniques for cellulose- and chitosan-based materials, including spectroscopic, microscopic, and thermal analysis;
• Chemical and physical modifications of cellulose and chitosan to enhance their properties and functionalities;
• Biocompatibility and biodegradability studies of cellulose- and chitosan-based materials;
• Applications of cellulose and chitosan in drug delivery, tissue engineering, wound healing, and other biomedical fields;
• The use of cellulose and chitosan in sustainable packaging materials;
• Advances in the utilization of cellulose and chitosan in water treatment technologies;
• The incorporation of cellulose and chitosan in composite materials for enhanced mechanical, thermal, or barrier properties;
• Life cycle assessment and sustainability aspects of cellulose- and chitosan-based materials.

Researchers are invited to submit original research articles and reviews related to the scope of this Special Issue. All submissions will undergo rigorous peer review following the journal’s standard review process. Manuscripts should be prepared according to the journal's guidelines for authors.

Dr. Bishnu Acharya
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the Special Issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Polymers is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.