Search Results (73)

The atypical proliferation of Sargassum (Sargassum spp.) in the tropical Atlantic and the Caribbean Sea over the past decade has triggered an unprecedented environmental and socioeconomic crisis along the Mexican coastline. Continuous beaching events of this macroalga on the Riviera Maya have caused coastal ecosystem degradation, severe impacts on the tourism sector, toxic gas emissions during decomposition, and high cleanup costs. To address this challenge, the valorization of Sargassum as a raw material for synthesizing functional materials represents a sustainable management strategy. In this study, a superabsorbent hydrogel was developed from Sargassum biomass (collected in Cancún, Quintana Roo, in 2025) using an innovative process that bypasses the conventional cellulose isolation step. The biomass was subjected to high-energy milling (15 and 30 min) to prepare Sargassum powder, which was subsequently carboxymethylated using monochloroacetic acid. This modified biomass was then crosslinked with citric acid, a process evaluated at three different citric acid/carboxymethylated Sargassum mass ratios. The hydrogel synthesized with the lowest crosslinking agent ratio achieved a maximum water absorption capacity of 1160 wt%, a value that exceeds the typical absorption capacities of 700–900% for biopolymer hydrogels. Successful material formation was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), which revealed the characteristic functional groups of CMC and the ester bonds formed during crosslinking. Additionally, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis showed a well-defined porous structure with pore sizes ranging from 8.5 to 19.5 µm, which is essential for its high absorption performance. This study demonstrates the feasibility of producing high performance hydrogels from Sargassum through a simplified, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly process. These findings open a promising avenue for the integrated management of this problematic biomass, transforming it into value-added materials with potential applications in agriculture, hygiene, and environmental remediation. Full article

The treatment of skin diseases remains a significant clinical challenge. Cellulose and its derivatives have emerged as research hotspots in skin-related applications due to their excellent biocompatibility, structural modifiability, and biomimetic properties. This review systematically summarizes the diverse construction forms of cellulose-based materials, including films, nanofibrous scaffolds, hydrogels, and aerogels, with a focus on smart responsive systems tailored to various microenvironmental conditions. Their application progresses in acute/chronic wound healing, bacterial infections, burns, scar prevention, immunomodulation, and smart wearable monitoring are highlighted. The underlying mechanisms involving anti-infection, pro-regeneration, microenvironment modulation, and sensing are analyzed, aiming to provide insights for further exploration of cellulose-based materials in skin disease therapy and even smart wearable devices. Full article

As the most abundant natural polymer on Earth, cellulose offers distinct advantages including renewability, biocompatibility, and modifiability. Among its various morphologies, spherical cellulose hydrogels (SCHs) represent a particularly versatile form ranging from micrometer to millimeter scales. They possess a unique hydrophilic 3D network, excellent flowability, high specific surface area, and outstanding mechanical stability, demonstrating great potential for biomedical applications. This mini-review highlights the primary bottom-up fabrication strategies for SCHs, including dripping, spraying, emulsion, and microfluidics, and the mechanisms by which different fabrication processes regulate their size, morphology, and structure are elucidated. On this basis, the recent advancements in SCHs across key biomedical domains, specifically in chromatographic separation, controlled drug delivery, tissue engineering, and wound healing, are discussed. Finally, the current challenges and future directions in this field are summarized and predicted, aiming to provide a reference for the development and application of high-performance cellulose-based biomaterials. Full article

p-coumaric acid is a natural phenolic compound with antioxidant activity, but its poor solubility and low bioavailability limit its practical use in oral formulations. The aim of this study is to evaluate how different polymers affect the dissolution and antioxidant properties of p-coumaric acid when incorporated into capsules and gels. Nine capsule compositions were prepared using poloxamer 407 (C1 group), sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (C2 group), chitosan (C3 group) and 5 hydrogels (G group) with the same polymers. The results indicate that p-coumaric acid is poorly soluble in aqueous solvents. The selected polymers modified the solubility of p-coumaric acid. The best solubility of p-coumaric acid was observed in mixtures containing 14.3% Poloxamer 407 (P407). The results showed that the polymers significantly affected the release kinetics of p-coumaric acid from the modeled capsules and gels. It was observed that capsules containing 14.3% P407 and gels with 14% P407 exhibited the best dissolution kinetics of p-coumaric acid. Antioxidant activity was strongest in formulations that released more p-coumaric acid. The results of this study confirm that the type and amount of excipients significantly affect the quality of capsules and gels. p-coumaric acid has the potential to be used in food supplements as a natural antioxidant, but further research is needed to improve its bioavailability and ensure safety. Full article

Current wound care still lacks multifunctional dressings capable of providing both structural support and controlled therapeutic activity. Developing such materials requires polymer matrices with tunable physicochemical properties, achievable through the rational selection of components and modifiers. In this study, polymer composites based on poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), modified with glycerol and montmorillonite (MMT), were synthesized using a novel and rapid preparation method aimed at producing structurally adjustable matrices. The obtained materials were characterized by FTIR, SEM, and AFM analyses. FTIR spectra confirmed the competitive role of glycerol in reducing cross-linking efficiency and the compensatory effect of MMT in enhancing molecular interactions and structural density. The interaction between the two modifiers resulted in hybrid structures with intermediate organization, neither purely crystalline nor amorphous. SEM imaging revealed that glycerol promotes porosity, while higher MMT content stabilizes the polymer matrix, enhancing surface homogeneity. AFM revealed that the average roughness (1 × 1 μm scans) increased from 0.98 μm (sample B7) to 5.30 μm (sample C7) after glycerol addition. In conclusion, obtained results demonstrate the synergistic and opposing roles of glycerol and MMT, ultimately enabling the design of multifunctional polymer composites and warranting further investigation through XRD, DSC, rheology, and swelling capacity analyses. Full article

A common and challenging issue in drug delivery is the premature release of drugs, which prevents them from reaching the target site. Finding suitable delivery materials has become a major research focus in the medical field. Cellulose-based hydrogels are a type of material with a three-dimensional network structure and good biocompatibility, offering significant advantages for drug delivery. This review begins with the raw materials of cellulose-based hydrogels and reviews their preparation methods and principles—including physical, chemical, and other special approaches—along with chemical modification strategies and their applications in medical drug delivery, such as drug carriers, drug release wound dressings, and so on. Special emphasis is placed on modification strategies to overcome the limitations of hydrogels, such as poor pH responsiveness, self-healing ability, and temperature sensitivity. It can be achieved by modifying the chemical chain itself, adding functional fillers, and constructing a dual network. Finally, the prospects of cellulose-based hydrogels in medical applications are discussed. Cellulose-based hydrogels, as drug delivery materials, are highly effective in biomedical applications and demonstrate significant potential for clinical translation in the field of precise drug release. Full article

Plant-derived nanocellulose particles, such as cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) and cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), are becoming increasingly popular for a wide range of applications. In particular, when they are employed as rheology modifiers and/or fillers, a choice between CNFs and CNCs is often not obvious. Here, we present the results of a comparative study on the rheological properties of suspensions and gels of carboxymethylated CNFs and CNCs with the same surface chemistry, surface density of charged groups, and thickness. We demonstrate that, at the same weight concentration, CNF suspensions have much higher viscosity and storage modulus, which is due to their longer length providing many entanglements. However, when comparing at the same nanoparticle concentration relative to C*, the situation is reversed: viscosity and storage modulus of CNCs appear to be much higher. This may be due in particular to the higher rigidity and intrinsic strength of highly crystalline CNCs. The gel points for CNF and CNC suspensions (without crosslinker) were compared for the first time. It was found that in the case of CNFs, the gel point occurs at a 3.5-fold lower concentration compared to that of CNCs. Hydrogels were also obtained by crosslinking negatively charged nanocellulose particles of both types by divalent calcium cations. For the first time, the thermodynamic parameters of the crosslinking of carboxymethylated CNFs by calcium ions were determined. Isothermal titration calorimetry data revealed that, for both CNFs and CNCs, crosslinking is endothermic and driven by increasing entropy, which is most likely due to the release of water molecules surrounding the interacting nanoparticles and Ca²⁺ ions. The addition of CaCl₂ to suspensions of nanocellulose particles leads to an increase in the storage modulus; the increase being much more significant for CNCs. Physically crosslinked hydrogels of both CNFs and CNCs can be reversibly destroyed by increasing the shear rate and then quickly recover up to 85% of their original viscosity when the shear rate decreases. The recovery time for CFC networks is only 6 s, which is much shorter than that of CNC networks. This property is promising for various applications, where nanocellulose suspensions are subjected to high shear forces (e.g., mixing, stirring, extrusion, injection, coating) and then need to regain their original properties when at rest. Full article

Gel materials are widely used in underground mining for air leakage sealing and coal spontaneous combustion prevention. In this study, a novel self-healing carboxymethyl cellulose-modified amphiphilic polymer hydrogel with fire prevention and extinguishing capabilities is synthesized through ionic crosslinking between CMC-graft-poly(AM-co-NaA-co-BAM) and aluminum citrate (AlCit). The copolymer is constructed by grafting sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) onto an amphiphilic polymer backbone composed of acrylamide (AM), sodium acrylate (NaA), and N-benzylacrylamide (BAM), forming a dual-network structure via hydrophobic association and hydrogen bonding. The carboxymethyl cellulose-modified amphiphilic polymer demonstrates optimal viscosity-enhancing performance at a CMC content of 7.5 wt%. CMC-graft-poly(AM-co-NaA-co-BAM) demonstrated superior temperature, shear, and salt resistant performance compared with poly(AM-co-NaA-co-BAM), poly(AM-co-NaA), and CMC polymers, as well as enhanced viscoelasticity and self-healing capability. When crosslinked with AlCit, CMC-graft-poly(AM-co-NaA-co-BAM)-AlCit gel demonstrated superior viscoelastic properties and self-healing capability, as well as thermal stability, which gave the superior fire prevention and extinguishing performance for charcoal in fire extinction tests. CMC-graft-poly(AM-co-NaA-co-BAM) has abundant cross-linking sites, which lead to accelerated gelation and improved mechanical strength, while the hydrophobic microdomains acted as physical cross-linking points that interconnected polymer chains into a three-dimensional network. The hydrophobic interactions within the hydrogel are dynamically reversible. This intrinsic property allows physical cross-links to spontaneously reassociate when fracture surfaces make contact. Consequently, the material exhibits autonomous self-healing. Full article

Cellulose nanofibers and pectin are promising candidates for polysaccharide-based gel carriers. However, their integration into a structurally modified hybrid gel system has not been extensively investigated. In this study, hybrid cryogels with a pH-responsive release profile favoring small intestinal delivery were prepared by freeze-drying various ratios of anionic nanofibrillar cellulose (aNFC) and amidated pectin (AP). Under acidic conditions, carboxylate protonation reduced intermolecular electrostatic repulsion, promoting the formation of the aNFC/AP hybrid gel network. Increasing the AP content enhanced the mechanical strength of the hydrogels and resulted in larger pore sizes after freeze-drying. The hybrid cryogels prolonged the release of a model drug for up to 20–30 min at pH 3.0, while exhibiting rapid release within 1–2 min when the pH exceeded 6.5, due to gel network collapse. The release behavior was governed by both the porous morphology and the crosslinking density of the cryogel scaffolds. These findings demonstrate that aNFC/AP hybrid cryogels possess a well-defined pH-responsive functional window (pH 6.5–7.0) and hold strong potential as oral drug delivery systems targeting the small intestine. Full article

Cultured meat is emerging as a sustainable alternative to conventional animal agriculture, with scaffolds playing a central role in supporting cellular attachment, growth, and tissue maturation. This review focuses on the development of gel-based hybrid biomaterials that meet the dual requirements of biocompatibility and food safety. We explore recent advances in the use of naturally derived gel-forming polymers such as gelatin, chitosan, cellulose, alginate, and plant-based proteins as the structural backbone for edible scaffolds. Particular attention is given to the integration of food-grade functional additives into hydrogel-based scaffolds. These include nanocellulose, dietary fibers, modified starches, polyphenols, and enzymatic crosslinkers such as transglutaminase, which enhance mechanical stability, rheological properties, and cell-guidance capabilities. Rather than focusing on fabrication methods or individual case studies, this review emphasizes the material-centric design strategies for building scalable, printable, and digestible gel scaffolds suitable for cultured meat production. By systemically evaluating the role of each component in structural reinforcement and biological interaction, this work provides a comprehensive frame work for designing next-generation edible scaffold systems. Nonetheless, the field continues to face challenges, including structural optimization, regulatory validation, and scale-up, which are critical for future implementation. Ultimately, hybrid gel-based scaffolds are positioned as a foundational technology for advancing the functionality, manufacturability, and consumer readiness of cultured meat products, distinguishing this work from previous reviews. Unlike previous reviews that have focused primarily on fabrication techniques or tissue engineering applications, this review provides a uniquely food-centric perspective by systematically evaluating the compositional design of hybrid hydrogel-based scaffolds with edibility, scalability, and consumer acceptance in mind. Through a comparative analysis of food-safe additives and naturally derived biopolymers, this review establishes a framework that bridges biomaterials science and food engineering to advance the practical realization of cultured meat products. Full article

This work explores the synthesis of biomass-waste-derived cellulose nanocrystal hydrogel from aloe vera bagasse (AVB) and banana pseudostem (BPS). A wide variety of synthesis parameters such as acid concentration (45 wt.% and 55 wt.%), temperatures in the process of 25, 40, 45 and 50 °C, and reaction times of 30 and 60 min were analyzed during the acid hydrolysis to evaluate changes in the morphology, crystallinity, swelling, degradation temperature, and mechanical properties. The parameters that most influenced the crystallinity were the temperature and reaction time, showing good characteristics such as percentage crystallinity (89.66% for nanocellulose from C₄₅t₃₀T₅₀ up to 97.58% for CNC-BPS C₅₅t₃₀T₅₀), and crystal size (from 23.40 to 68.31 nm), which was worth considering for hydrogel synthesis. Cellulose nanocrystalline hydrogels from both biomass wastes can modify the crystallinity for tailored high-end engineering and biomedical applications, although using BPS obtained the best overall performance; also, properties such as swelling capability at pH = 4 of 225.39% for hydrogel C₅₅t₃₀T₂₅ (H7), porosity (60.77 ± 2.60%) for C₄₅t₆₀T₄₀ (H6), and gel % (86.60 ± 2.62%) for C₅₅t₆₀T₅₀ (H8) were found. The mechanical test revealed a tensile strength at maximum load of 707.67 kPa (hydrogel H6) and 644.17 kPa (hydrogel H8), which are properties conferred by the CNC from BPS. Overall, CNC from BPS is recommended as a reinforcement for hydrogel synthesis due to its good mechanical properties and functionals, making it a promising material for biomedical applications. Full article

Background: Cartilage defects and injuries often lead to osteoarthritis, posing significant challenges for cartilage repair. Traditional treatments have limited efficacy, necessitating innovative therapeutic strategies. This study aimed to develop an injectable hydrogel-based tissue engineering construct to enhance cartilage regeneration by combining mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and the small molecule drug kartogenin (KGN). Methods: An injectable hydrogel was synthesized by crosslinking carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC) with aldehyde-modified cellulose nanocrystals (DACNCs). KGN was incorporated into the hydrogel during crosslinking to achieve sustained drug release. Three hydrogels with varying CMC/DACNC molar ratios (MR = 0.11, 0.22, and 0.33) were developed and characterized for their structural, mechanical, and biocompatible properties. The hydrogel with the optimal ratio (MR = 0.33) was further evaluated for its ability to support MSC viability and differentiation in vitro. Additionally, signaling pathways (TGF-β, FOXO, and PI3K-AKT) were investigated to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. In vivo efficacy was assessed using a rabbit femoral trochlear cartilage defect model. Results: The hydrogel with a higher CMC/DACNC molar ratio (MR = 0.33) exhibited increased compressive modulus, a reduced swelling rate, and superior biocompatibility, effectively promoting MSC differentiation in vitro. Signaling pathway analysis revealed activation of the TGF-β, FOXO, and PI3K-AKT pathways, suggesting enhanced chondrogenic potential. In vivo experiments demonstrated that the KGN-MSC-encapsulated hydrogel significantly improved cartilage repair. Conclusions: The injectable CMC/DACNC hydrogel, combined with KGN and MSCs, synergistically enhanced cartilage regeneration both in vitro and in vivo. This study highlights the potential of this hydrogel as a promising scaffold for cartilage tissue engineering, offering a novel therapeutic approach for cartilage defects and injuries. Full article

Cellulose, a widely abundant natural polymer, is well recognized for its remarkable properties, such as biocompatibility, degradability, and mechanical strength. Conductive hydrogels, with their unique ability to conduct electricity, have attracted significant attention in various fields. The combination of cellulose and conductive hydrogels has led to the emergence of cellulose-based conductive hydrogels, which show great potential in flexible electronics, biomedicine, and energy storage. This review article comprehensively presents the latest progress in cellulose-based conductive hydrogels. Firstly, it provides an in-depth overview of cellulose, covering aspects like its structure, diverse sources, and classification. This emphasizes cellulose’s role as a renewable and versatile material. The development and applications of different forms of cellulose, including delignified wood, bacterial cellulose, nanocellulose, and modified cellulose, are elaborated. Subsequently, cellulose-based hydrogels are introduced, with a focus on their network structures, such as single-network, interpenetrating network, and semi-interpenetrating network. The construction of cellulose-based conductive hydrogels is then discussed in detail. This includes their conductive forms, which are classified into electronic and ionic conductive hydrogels, and key performance requirements, such as cost-effectiveness, mechanical property regulation, sensitive response to environmental stimuli, self-healing ability, stable conductivity, and multifunctionality. The applications of cellulose-based conductive hydrogels in multiple areas are also presented. In wearable sensors, they can effectively monitor human physiological signals in real time. In intelligent biomedicine, they contribute to wound healing, tissue engineering, and nerve regeneration. In flexible supercapacitors, they offer potential for green and sustainable energy storage. In gel electrolytes for conventional batteries, they help address critical issues like lithium dendrite growth. Despite the significant progress, there are still challenges to overcome. These include enhancing the multifunctionality and intelligence of cellulose-based conductive hydrogels, strengthening their connection with artificial intelligence, and achieving simple, green, and intelligent large-scale industrial production. Future research directions should center around exploring new synthesis methods, optimizing material properties, and expanding applications in emerging fields, aiming to promote the widespread commercialization of these materials. Full article

Hydrogel delivery systems are popular dosage forms that have a number of advantages, such as ease of use, painlessness, increased efficiency due to prolongation of rheological, swelling and sorption characteristics, regulation of drug release, and stimulus sensitivity. Particular interest is shown in hydrogels of cellulose ether derivatives due to the possibility of obtaining their modified forms to vary the solubility, the degree of prolonged action, and the release of the active substance, as well as their widespread availability, affordability, and the possibility of sourcing raw materials from different sources. Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC, “hypromellose”) is one of the most popular cellulose ethers in the production of medicines as a filler, coating and carrier. Research on hydrogel carriers based on polymer complexes and modified forms of HPMC using acrylic, citric, and lactic acids, PVP, chitosan, Na-CMC, and gelatin is of particular interest, as they provide the necessary rheological and swelling characteristics. There is growing interest in medical transdermal hydrogels, films, capsules, membranes, nanocrystals, and nanofibers based on HPMC with the incorporation of biologically active substances (BASs), especially those of plant origin, as antibacterial, wound-healing, antimicrobial, mucoadhesive, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant agents. The aim of this article is to review modern research and achievements in the field of hydrogel systems based on cellulose ethers, particularly HPMC, analyzing their properties, methods of production, and prospects for application in medicine and pharmacy. Full article

Due to the intensification of global warming and the greenhouse effect, the exploration and research of sustainable sensors have become a research direction of people. Cellulose-based hydrogels, as a new kind of green material with strong plasticity, have become a popular material for sensor development. Due to the limited mechanical properties and poor compatibility of single-cellulose-based hydrogels, researchers have modified them to not only retain the original excellent properties of cellulose hydrogels, but also increase other properties, which has broadened the field of developing cellulose hydrogel sensors. From 2017 to 2020, cellulose-based hydrogel sensors were mainly used for biosensing applications, with a focus on the detection of biomolecules. Since then, researchers have increasingly turned their attention to pressure and strain sensors, especially those that are flexible and suitable for wearable devices. This paper introduces the modification of cellulose and cellulose-based hydrogels in detail, and lists the applications of modified cellulose-based hydrogels in different functional sensor directions, which provides different ideas for the application of modified cellulose-based hydrogels in the field of sensing, and proves that they have great potential in the field of sensing. Full article