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Cellulose and Its Derivatives in Biomedical Applications: Current Trends and Future Directions

A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Biobased and Biodegradable Polymers".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2026 | Viewed by 2234

Editors

Dr. Madalina Oprea

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Guest Editor
1. Advanced Polymers Materials Group, National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest, 1-7 Gheorghe Polizu, 011061 Bucharest, Romania
2. Department of Analytical Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnologies, National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest, 1-7 Gheorghe Polizu, 011061 Bucharest, Romania
Interests: cellulose and cellulose derivatives; polymeric membranes; biomedical applications; surface functionalization; composite membranes
Prof. Dr. Stefan Ioan Voicu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Advanced Polymers Materials Group, National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest, 1-7 Gheorghe Polizu, 011061 Bucharest, Romania
2. Department of Analytical Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnologies, National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest, 1-7 Gheorghe Polizu, 011061 Bucharest, Romania
3. Academy of Romanian Scientists, 54 Splaiul Independentei, 050094 Bucharest, Romania
Interests: synthesis and characterization of polymeric membranes; biomedical applications of polymeric membranes; functionalization and derivatization of carbon-based nanospecies
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Cellulose has long been recognized as a sustainable and adaptable biopolymer, but only in recent years has its biomedical potential been explored in depth. With advances in nanotechnology, functionalization strategies, and processing methods, cellulose and its derivatives are now at the forefront of innovative solutions for healthcare. This Special Issue on “Cellulose and Its Derivatives in Biomedical Applications: Current Trends and Future Directions” aims to provide a platform for the latest developments in the field, spanning topics ranging from cellulose-based scaffolds for tissue engineering to applications of nanocellulose in drug delivery, wound healing, biosensing, and antimicrobial systems. By bringing together contributions from leading researchers across various disciplines, the collection highlights not only the versatility and promise of cellulose, but also the challenges that remain in translating laboratory findings into clinical practice. Our goal is to stimulate dialogue, inspire new collaborations, and outline future directions where cellulose-based materials can play a decisive role in shaping next-generation biomedical technologies.

Dr. Madalina Oprea
Prof. Dr. Stefan Ioan Voicu
Guest Editors

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.

Keywords

  • cellulose
  • nanocellulose
  • cellulose derivatives
  • biomedical applications
  • drug delivery
  • tissue engineering
  • wound healing

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 6796 KB  
Article
Facile Fabrication of Nanocellulose Beads with Tunable Carboxyl Content for Blood Purification
by Zhongqiu Ge, Hengfeng Zhu, Yiyang Chen, Yihang Rong, Zhuqun Shi and Quanling Yang
Polymers 2026, 18(13), 1647; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym18131647 - 2 Jul 2026
Viewed by 202
Abstract
Most adsorbent materials typically face difficulties such as poor blood compatibility, weak mechanical strength, and high cost. In this study, oxidized 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl (TEMPO) was used to obtain cellulose nanofiber (TOCN), and cellulose beads were prepared using a drop curing method. The structure, adsorption [...] Read more.
Most adsorbent materials typically face difficulties such as poor blood compatibility, weak mechanical strength, and high cost. In this study, oxidized 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl (TEMPO) was used to obtain cellulose nanofiber (TOCN), and cellulose beads were prepared using a drop curing method. The structure, adsorption properties, and blood compatibility of the prepared beads were thoroughly investigated. The TOCN beads exhibit a uniform, nanometer-scale, three-dimensional porous structure. With increasing carboxyl content, after adsorption of TOCN beads, the bilirubin concentration in rabbit plasma decreased from 0.03 to 0.0089 mg mL−1 within 90 min, which is significantly lower than the average bilirubin concentration in humans (about 0.01 mg mL−1), and the bilirubin concentration decreased by about 70%. The results illustrated the excellent blood compatibility, self-anticoagulant ability, and superior toxin removal capabilities of the TOCN beads, highlighting their potential as an ideal blood purification adsorbent. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cellulose and Its Derivatives in Biomedical Applications: Current Trends and Future Directions)
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15 pages, 2489 KB  
Article
Cellulose Acetate/Hydroxyapatite-Dexamethasone Loaded Membranes for the Prevention of Implant-Associated Acute Inflammation
by Stefan Ioan Voicu, Andreea Madalina Pandele, Adrian Ionut Nicoara, Iulian Vasile Antoniac, Madalina Oprea and Cristian Bica
Polymers 2026, 18(10), 1159; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym18101159 - 8 May 2026
Viewed by 520
Abstract
Implant-associated acute inflammation remains a major challenge in orthopedic, dental, and maxillofacial applications, often impairing osseointegration and leading to early implant failure. In this study, multifunctional cellulose acetate/hydroxyapatite–dexamethasone (CA/HA–DEXA) composite membranes were developed to locally modulate inflammation while supporting early bone–implant interactions. Cellulose [...] Read more.
Implant-associated acute inflammation remains a major challenge in orthopedic, dental, and maxillofacial applications, often impairing osseointegration and leading to early implant failure. In this study, multifunctional cellulose acetate/hydroxyapatite–dexamethasone (CA/HA–DEXA) composite membranes were developed to locally modulate inflammation while supporting early bone–implant interactions. Cellulose acetate provides a flexible matrix, hydroxyapatite enhances bioactivity and osteoconductivity, and dexamethasone acts as an anti-inflammatory agent. The membranes exhibited composition-dependent swelling and drug release behavior. The swelling degree decreased from ~11% for pristine CA to ~5% for the highest HA–DEXA loading, indicating a denser structure with restricted water uptake. Dexamethasone release showed a biphasic profile, with cumulative release reaching ~68%, ~88%, and ~93% for 0.5%, 1%, and 2% HA–DEXA loadings after 72 h, respectively. In vitro evaluation indicated improved biomineralization for CA/HA–DEXA membranes compared to neat CA, attributed to the role of hydroxyapatite as a nucleation promoter. These findings suggest that CA/HA–DEXA composite membranes represent a promising strategy for controlling early inflammatory responses while supporting bone regeneration at the implant interface. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cellulose and Its Derivatives in Biomedical Applications: Current Trends and Future Directions)
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29 pages, 49475 KB  
Article
Green-Synthesized Zinc Oxide–Bacterial Cellulose Composites: Eco-Friendly Antibacterial Wound Dressings for Faster Healing
by Iuliana-Mihaela Deleanu, Sorana-Gabriela Ivanescu, Gabriela-Olimpia Isopencu, Ovidiu-Cristian Oprea, Mihaela Bacalum, Diana-Lavinia Stan, Sorin-Ion Jinga and Cristina Busuioc
Polymers 2026, 18(9), 1050; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym18091050 - 26 Apr 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1125
Abstract
The present work aimed to obtain antibacterial wound dressings using bacterial cellulose (BC) as a support, to improve wound treatment and reduce the incidence of infections. To enhance the antibacterial activity of the synthesized dressings, the introduction of ZnO nanoparticles into the BC [...] Read more.
The present work aimed to obtain antibacterial wound dressings using bacterial cellulose (BC) as a support, to improve wound treatment and reduce the incidence of infections. To enhance the antibacterial activity of the synthesized dressings, the introduction of ZnO nanoparticles into the BC network by precipitation was pursued. The method chosen to develop ZnO NPs was green synthesis, an ecological and sustainable method for obtaining nanomaterials using plant extracts as reducing agents or stabilizers. Thus, the chosen plants were Ginger rhizomes, Bay leaves, and Rose hips, in both fresh and dry form, due to the natural benefits they possess, and the Soxhlet method was used to obtain the plant extracts desired to be used in the synthesis. The composite dressings were developed in two distinct sample series, differentiated by the immersion time of BC in the precursor Zn2+ solution. The samples in the first series were obtained by precipitation in a mixture of Zn2+ solution and natural extract, whereas the samples in the second series were obtained by successive immersion in Zn2+ solution and then in natural extract, which demonstrated a considerable difference. The best antimicrobial activity tested against Gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli was recorded for the composite material obtained in the presence of fresh rose hip extract, an aspect most likely related to the morphological and crystalline features of the ZnO phase, but also to the phytochemical profile of the extract used. Such eco-friendly materials represent valuable candidates for wound dressing applications due to their ability to support wound healing, relief burns, and skin irritation, provide antimicrobial protection, promote skin regeneration and reduce scarring, protect sensitive skin, and act as a barrier against external contaminants. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cellulose and Its Derivatives in Biomedical Applications: Current Trends and Future Directions)
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