Bioactive Bacterial Nanocellulose Membranes Enriched with Eucalyptus globulus Labill. Leaves Aqueous Extract for Anti-Aging Skin Care Applications

Catalytic and biomedical applications of nanocelluloses: A review of recent developments

Nanocelluloses exhibit immense potential in catalytic and biomedical applications. Their unique properties, biocompatibility, and versatility make them valuable in various industries, contributing to advancements in environmental sustainability, catalysis, energy conversion, drug delivery, tissue engineering, biosensing/imaging, and wound healing/dressings. Nanocellulose-based catalysts can efficiently remove pollutants from contaminated environments, contributing to sustainable and cleaner ecosystems. These materials can also be utilized as drug carriers, enabling targeted and controlled drug release. Their high surface area allows for efficient loading of therapeutic agents, while their biodegradability ensures safer and gradual release within the body. These targeted drug delivery systems enhance the efficacy of treatments and minimizes side effects. Moreover, nanocelluloses can serve as scaffolds in tissue engineering due to their structural integrity and biocompatibility. They provide a three-dimensional framework for cell growth and tissue regeneration, promoting the development of functional and biologically relevant tissues. Nanocellulose-based dressings have shown great promise in wound healing and dressings. Their ability to absorb exudates, maintain a moist environment, and promote cell proliferation and migration accelerates the wound healing process. Herein, the recent advancements pertaining to the catalytic and biomedical applications of nanocelluloses and their composites are deliberated, focusing on important challenges, advantages, limitations, and future prospects.

Two-Step Upcycling Process of Lignocellulose into Edible Bacterial Nanocellulose with Black Raspberry Extract as an Active Ingredient

(1) Background: Bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) has gained in popularity over the years due to its outstanding properties such as renewability, biocompatibility, and bioavailability, and its use as an eco-friendly material of the future for replacing petrochemical products. (2) Methods: This research refers to the utilization of lignocellulose coming from wood waste via enzymatic hydrolysis to produce biopolymer BNC with an accumulation rate of 0.09 mg/mL/day. Besides its significant contribution to the sustainability, circularity, and valorization of biomass products, the obtained BNC was functionalized through the adsorption of black raspberry extract (BR) by simple soaking. (3) Results: BR contained 77.25 ± 0.23 mg GAE/g of total phenolics and 27.42 ± 0.32 mg CGE/g of total anthocyanins. The antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of BR was evaluated by DPPH (60.51 ± 0.18 µg/mL) and FRAP (1.66 ± 0.03 mmol Fe2+/g) and using a standard disc diffusion assay, respectively. The successful synthesis and interactions between BNC and BR were confirmed by FTIR analysis, while the morphology of the new nutrient-enriched material was investigated by SEM analysis. Moreover, the in vitro release kinetics of a main active compound (cyanidin-3-O-rutinoside) was tested in different release media. (4) Conclusions: The upcycling process of lignocellulose into enriched BNC has been demonstrated. All findings emphasize the potential of BNC-BR as a sustainable food industry material.

A Microbial Co-Culturing System for Producing Cellulose-Hyaluronic Acid Composites

In this study, a co-culture system combining bacterial cellulose (BC) producers and hyaluronic acid (HA) producers was developed for four different combinations. AAB of the genus Komagataeibacter sp. and LAB of the Lactocaseibacillus genus were used to produce BC and HA, respectively. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction were used to investigate changes in BC-HA composites chemical and morphological structure. Water absorption, uptake, and antibacterial properties were also tested. Outcomes highlighted a higher bacterial cellulose yield and the incorporation of hyaluronic acid into the composite. The presence of hyaluronic acid increased fiber dimension-nearly doubled for some combinations-which led to a decreased crystallinity of the composites. Different results were observed based on the BC producer and HA producer combination. However, water holding capacity (WHC) in all the samples improved with the presence of HA, while water uptake worsened. A thymol-enriched BC-HA composite showed high antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli DSM 30083^T and Staphylococcus aureus DSM 20231^T. Results could contribute to opening new applications in the cosmetics or pharmaceutical fields.

Bacterial cellulose-based composites as vehicles for dermal and transdermal drug delivery: A review

In recent years, a significant amount of drugs have been taken orally, which are not as effective as desired. To solve this problem, bacterial cellulose-based dermal/transdermal drug delivery systems (BC-DDSs) with unique properties such as cell compatibility, hemocompatibility, tunable mechanical properties, and the ability to encapsulate various therapeutic agents with the controlled release have been introduced. A BC-dermal/transdermal DDS reduces first-pass metabolism and systematic side effects while improving patient compliance and dosage effectiveness by controlling drug release through the skin. The barrier function of the skin, especially the stratum corneum, can interfere with drug delivery. Few drugs can pass through the skin to reach effective concentrations in the blood to treat diseases. Due to their unique physicochemical properties and high potential to reduce immunogenicity and improve bioavailability, BC-dermal/transdermal DDSs are widely used to deliver various types of drugs for disease treatment. In this review, we describe the different types of BC-dermal/ transdermal DDSs, along with a critical discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of these systems. After the general presentation, the review is focused on recent advances in the preparation and applications of BC-based dermal/transdermal DDSs in various types of disease treatment.

Cellulose and protein nanofibrils: Singular biobased nanostructures for the design of sustainable advanced materials

Polysaccharides and proteins are extensively used for the design of advanced sustainable materials. Owing to the high aspect ratio and specific surface area, ease of modification, high mechanical strength and thermal stability, renewability, and biodegradability, biopolymeric nanofibrils are gaining growing popularity amongst the catalog of nanostructures exploited in a panoply of fields. These include the nanocomposites, paper and packaging, environmental remediation, electronics, energy, and biomedical applications. In this review, recent trends on the use of cellulose and protein nanofibrils as versatile substrates for the design of high-performance nanomaterials are assessed. A concise description of the preparation methodologies and characteristics of cellulosic nanofibrils, namely nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC), bacterial nanocellulose (BNC), and protein nanofibrils is presented. Furthermore, the use of these nanofibrils in the production of sustainable materials, such as membranes, films, and patches, amongst others, as well as their major domains of application, are briefly described, with focus on the works carried out at the BioPol4Fun Research Group (Innovation in BioPolymer based Functional Materials and Bioactive Compounds) from the Portuguese associate laboratory CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials (University of Aveiro). The potential for partnership between both types of nanofibrils in advanced material development is also reviewed. Finally, the critical challenges and opportunities for these biobased nanostructures for the development of functional materials are addressed.