Porous soluble dialdehyde cellulose beads: A new carrier for the formulation of poorly water-soluble drugs

Novel multiple extraction thermal desorption approach prior to gas chromatography for the determination of residual solvents applied to modified cellulose

In this work, multiple extraction thermal desorption (METD), as a sample introduction method for GC, was developed. This technique was used for the determination of residual solvents (RS) in modified cellulose, because it is practically impossible to dissolve or distribute it uniformly in water and common organic solvents. Moreover, METD facilitates the optimization of the desorption time and it is more sensitive to quantify trace level volatiles in insoluble material, compared to direct dynamic desorption (DDD). In addition, METD provides diagnostic information about the sample-sorbent interaction. Three solvents (methanol, ethanol and tert-butanol) were determined in two types of modified cellulose (dialdehyde cellulose (DAC) and DAC-ethylenediamine (DAC-EDA)). It was shown that good linearity over a wide concentration range was achieved. The limits of detection (LOD) and limits of quantification (LOQ) for the different solvents ranged from 0.1 to 0.3 μg and from 0.3 to 0.9 μg per tube, respectively. Accuracy of the METD method was verified by using an alternative method based on the decomposition of the modified celluloses by Trichoderma reesei cellulase, followed by headspace-trap-GC (HS-trap-GC). The results obtained from the two validated methods were found to be similar (relative deviation < 17.0 %). However, the developed METD-GC method is preferable for the analysis of RS in modified cellulose since it does not require sample pretreatment and possesses higher sensitivity.

Designing for Degradation: Transient Devices Enabled by (Nano)Cellulose

Transient technology involves materials and devices that undergo controlled degradation after a reliable operation period. This groundbreaking strategy offers significant advantages over conventional devices based on non-renewable materials by limiting environmental exposure to potentially hazardous components after disposal, and by increasing material circularity. As the most abundant naturally occurring polymer on Earth, cellulose is an attractive material for this purpose. Besides, (nano)celluloses are inherently biodegradable and have competitive mechanical, optical, thermal, and ionic conductivity properties that can be exploited to develop sustainable devices and avoid the end-of-life issues associated with conventional systems. Despite its potential, few efforts have been made to review current advances in cellulose-based transient technology. Therefore, this review catalogs the state-of-the-art developments in transient devices enabled by cellulosic materials. To provide a wide perspective, the various degradation mechanisms involved in cellulosic transient devices are introduced. The advanced capabilities of transient cellulosic systems in sensing, photonics, energy storage, electronics, and biomedicine are also highlighted. Current bottlenecks toward successful implementation are discussed, with material circularity and environmental impact metrics at the center. It is believed that this review will serve as a valuable resource for the proliferation of cellulose-based transient technology and its implementation into fully integrated, circular, and environmentally sustainable devices.

Development of a Multifunctional Composite Hydrogel for Enhanced Wound Healing: Hemostasis, Sterilization, and Long-Term Moisturizing Properties

Meeting the diverse requirements of effective wound repair while surpassing the single-function limitations of traditional wound dressings is a significant challenge. In this study, we successfully synthesized an inclusion complex of 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD) and iodine using the saturated aqueous solution method. Additionally, dialdehyde cellulose (DAC) was extracted from fat-free cotton through oxidation. To enhance wound healing, l-glutamine (l-glu) was utilized as a functional molecule, resulting in composite hydrogels with hemostatic, sterilizing, and wound-healing-promoting properties that were achieved by adsorbing the resulting inclusion complex. Through TG and SEM analysis, we confirmed that iodine was effectively accommodated by cyclodextrin and was uniformly attached to the hydrogel. The hydrogel exhibits exceptional long-term moisturizing and bactericidal properties, while also demonstrating excellent swelling, oxygen permeability, hemolytic, and mechanical properties, fully satisfying the requirements of wound treatment. External coagulation tests revealed that the hydrogel can rapidly coagulate 4.5 times its own weight of blood. Moreover, in a full-thickness scald mouse model, the hydrogel effectively promotes wound healing. The development of this multifunctional composite hydrogel presents a novel approach to advance wound dressing research, holding substantial potential for practical applications.

Dialdehyde carbohydrates - Advanced functional materials for biomedical applications

Dialdehyde carbohydrates (DCs) have found applications in a wide range of biomedical field due to their great versatility, biocompatibility/biodegradability, biological properties, and controllable chemical/physical characteristics. The presence of dialdehyde groups in carbohydrate structure allows cross-linking of DCs to form versatile architectures serving as interesting matrices for biomedical applications (e.g., drug delivery, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine). Recently, DCs have noticeably contributed to the development of diverse physical forms of advanced functional biomaterials i.e., bulk architectures (hydrogels, films/coatings, or scaffolds) and nano/-micro formulations. We underline here the current scientific knowledge on DCs, and demonstrate their potential and newly developed biomedical applications. Specifically, an update on the synthesis approach and functional/bioactive attributes is provided, and the selected in vitro/in vivo studies are reviewed comprehensively as examples of the latest progress in the field. Moreover, safety concerns, challenges, and perspectives towards the application of DCs are deliberated.

Novel cationic cellulose beads for oral delivery of poorly water-soluble drugs

Cellulose beads emerge as carriers for poorly water-soluble drugs due to their eco-friendly raw materials and favorable porous structure. However, drug dissolution may be limited by their poor swelling ability and the presence of closed pores caused by shrinkage of the pristine cellulose beads. In this study, novel cellulose beads that can swell in acidic environment were prepared by introducing ethylenediamine (EDA) on dialdehyde cellulose (DAC), thereby addressing the shrinkage and closed pore problem of cellulose beads. The effect of the ratio of EDA on the swelling behavior and amine content of beads was studied. Three model drugs with different physicochemical properties were selected to study the physical state of loaded drugs and their release behavior. According to the results of XRPD and DSC, indomethacin and itraconazole loaded in the beads were amorphous at a drug loading of 20%, but fenofibrate was partially crystalline. Both bead size and the ratio of amine groups influenced the release behavior of the model drugs. The in vitro dissolution results showed that the cationic beads greatly improved the solubility and dissolution rate of the drug compared with the crystalline drug. Beads with a small size and high ratio of EDA tend to achieve a better drug dissolution rate and cumulative release percentage. Physical stability studies of the itraconazole-loaded beads were also implemented under four different temperature/humidity conditions for up to two months. The results showed that crystallization only appeared after two months of storage at 40°/75% RH, and the drug maintained a non-crystalline state in the other three storage conditions (0 °C/0 %RH, 0 °C/32 %RH, 25 °C/32 %RH). In conclusion, the novel pH-responsive cationic cellulose beads show great potential as a carrier for improving the rate and extent of dissolution of poorly soluble drugs and maintaining supersaturation.