Recent progresses in the development of magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles supported cellulose-based composites: A review

Abstract

Cellulose is a readily available, renewable, natural polymer and biodegradable that can be used to make polymer nanocomposites. Inorganic-organic composites are currently gaining popularity due to their flexibility. Hybrid nanocomposites made of cellulose and magnetic nanoparticles (NPs) have received a lot of interest over the past few years, because of their strong magnetic, chemical stability, biocompatibility, and simplicity of functionalization, Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles are frequently utilized in cellulose nanostructures. These characteristics make them perfect for applications including medication administration, adsorption, catalysis, and smart materials. In this review, we summarize the current state-of-the-art manufacturing techniques for Fe₃O₄ supported cellulose-based composites, with a particular emphasis on their characteristics and ongoing study advancements related to the utilization of Fe₃O₄ supported cellulose-based composites for metal adsorption, water/oil separation, dye degradation, biomedical and other applications. This work offers a critical and comparative evaluation of Fe₃O₄/cellulose hybrid composites, highlighting synthesis techniques, multifunctional applications, and methodically identifying current research gaps and future directions, in contrast to earlier reviews that primarily provide descriptive overviews. From 2010 to 2025, pertinent literature was methodically gathered from major databases such as Web of Science, Scopus, and ScienceDirect using keywords like “cellulose nanocomposites,” “Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles,” and “hybrid composites.” Studies that documented physicochemical characteristics, synthesis methods, or applications were included, while purely theoretical or irrelevant works were excluded. Furthermore, we will underline that this review outlines the future research areas and upcoming issues, thereby distinguishing it from generic narrative reviews.