ABSTRACT
The use of nanocellulose composites in biomedical applications is highlighted in this chapter. Nanocellulose composites hold great promise in a wide variety of biomedical applications; these include pharmaceuticals, wound dressings and skin substitutes, cardiovascular applications, orthopedics, dental, as well as ophthalmologic applications. The versatility of nanocellulose and its excellent properties—biocompatibility, high mechanical strength, good flexibility and elasticity, low toxicity, shear-thinning properties, and ability to swell and hold water—enable it to be used in various biomedical applications. Despite its advantages, further studies should aim to investigate different effects of the three types of nanocellulose (bacterial nanocellulose [BNC], cellulose nanocrystals [CNC], and cellulose nanofibers [CNF]) on the respective biomedical applications. This will indirectly pave the way for greater acceptance of nanocellulose as a commercially available nanomaterial in biomedical applications.
