Advances in Nanocellulose and Related Polysaccharide-Based Nanomaterials in a Green Context

Dear Colleagues,

Nanostructuring polysaccharides offers a compelling route to amplify their intrinsic advantages (renewability, biocompatibility, and aqueous processability) into advanced functionalities for sustainable materials. Among these, nanocellulose stands as the principal exemplar, accessed as cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), cellulose nanofibers (CNFs), and bacterial nanocellulose (BNC). Each class features distinct morphology, surface chemistry, and processing windows that enable high specific stiffness and strength, tunable interfaces, and versatile formats across dispersions, films, gels, hydrogels, aerogels, membranes, fibers, and printable inks.

The broader landscape of polysaccharide-based nanomaterials extends beyond cellulose to include chitin and chitosan, starch, pectin, alginate, and related systems, which provide complementary ionic, barrier, adhesive, and bioactive functions. Thoughtful derivatization, functionalization, and combination with other materials, such as polymers/bioplastics, carbon nanomaterials, MXenes, and metal oxides/metal nanoparticles, open up pathways to synergistic mechanical, transport, electrochemical, and antimicrobial performance.

This Topical Collection invites the submission of original research articles that advance the field of nanostructured polysaccharides from synthesis and isolation to green and scalable processing, structure–property relationships, and rigorous characterization (chemical–physical, rheological, interfacial). We encourage studies that adopt green chemistry principles, including aqueous or solvent-minimized routes, energy-efficient processing, benign reagents, and lifecycle thinking (LCA, end-of-life, safety) to align performance with sustainability.

Application areas of interest include polymer reinforcement, food packaging, composite engineering, energy-related technologies (electrodes, separators, solid/ion conductors, thermal management), and water-related technologies (filtration and adsorption membranes, antifouling/antimicrobial interfaces). Submissions on gelation mechanisms, rheology, and multiscale porosity in nanocellulose and polysaccharide-derived (aero)gels are especially encouraged, including links to filtration, sorption, controlled release, and flexible devices. Studies may examine polysaccharide-based nanomaterials as independent materials or as active phases, and within hierarchical or hybrid architectures to realize scalable, manufacturable solutions (coatings, fibers, printed electronics, responsive gels, and 3D-printed constructs).

By foregrounding the diversity of polysaccharide-derived nanomaterials, this Topical Collection seeks to chart credible, scalable pathways toward high-performance materials that are renewable by origin and responsible by design. Hosting this Topical Collection across multiple venues enables broader community engagement and diverse methodological viewpoints, accelerating progress through the convergence of materials science, sustainable chemistry, and application-driven research.

Dr. José Miguel González-Domínguez
Prof. Dr. Albert Nguyen Van Nhien
Dr. Caroline Hadad
Dr. Víctor Calvo
Dr. María Emilia Cano
Topic Editors