Nanoarchitectonics of nanocomposite hydrogels based on cellulose nanocrystals for biomedical applications: A review

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) are rod-shaped crystalline nanoparticles generated by acidolysis of cellulose, and they exhibit exceptional physical and chemical properties as well as biocompatibility. As a class of natural polymer, CNCs have been combined with other polymers to create high-performance nanocomposites. Leveraging the lyotropic liquid crystal properties of CNCs enables the development of a distinctive optical responsive system. This system finds applications in a variety of fields, including anti-counterfeiting technology, sensing, painting and medicine, among others. In addition, the combination of CNC-based hydrogels with various drugs and functional nanoparticles can be applied to a variety of emerging treatments to solve specific medical problems that cannot be solved by previous treatment systems. In this article, we review the recent progress in functionalizing CNCs and their use to form CNC-based hydrogel nanocomposites for medical applications. The development and functional mechanisms of these nanocomposites, incorporating nanoparticles and polymers for tumor therapy and controlled drug delivery systems, will be thoroughly examined. Finally, the research prospects and application orientation of these nanocomposites are provided.