abstract
Introduction: Bacterial cellulose (BC) is an extremely pure form of cellulose, which, due to its unique properties, such as high purity, water-holding capacity, three-dimensional nanofibrilar network, mechanical strength, biodegradability and biocompatibility, shows a high potential as nanomaterial in a wide range of high-tech domains including biomedical applications, and most notably in controlled drug-delivery systems. Areas covered: This appraisal is intended to cover the major characteristics of BC, followed by the key aspects of BC production both in static and agitated conditions, and a glance of the major applications of BC, giving some emphasis to biomedical applications. Finally, a detailed discussion of the different applications of BC in controlled drug-delivery systems will be put forward, with focus on topical and oral drug-delivery systems, using either native BC or composite materials thereof. Expert opinion: The limited number of studies carried out so far demonstrated that BC, or materials prepared from it, are interesting materials for drug-delivery systems. There is, however, a large field of systematic research ahead to develop new and more selectively responsive materials and eventually to conjugate them with other biomedical applications of BC under development.
keywords
BIOMIMETIC MINERALIZATION SYNTHESIS; SILVER NANOPARTICLES; MICROBIAL CELLULOSE; CONTROLLED-RELEASE; IN-VITRO; MECHANICAL-PROPERTIES; ACETOBACTER-XYLINUM; CALCIUM PHOSPHATES; GLUCONACETOBACTER-SACCHARI; BIOMEDICAL APPLICATIONS
subject category
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
authors
Silvestre, AJD; Freire, CSR; Neto, CP
our authors
acknowledgements
The authors were supported by FCT (Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia) and POPH/FSE for funding the Associate Laboratory CICECO (PEst-C/CTM/LA0011/2013, FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-037271) and the projects EXPL/CTM-ENE/0548/2012 (FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-027691), EXPL/CTM-POL/1802/2013 (FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-041484). C.S.R. Freire was supported by FCT/MCTES for a research contract under the Program