Nanocellulose-based composites in biomedical applications

Recent advances in materials science and nanotechnology together with ecological awareness have increased the interest in the development of green products. The biomedical industry has not taken an exemption from this current trend. Nanocellulose is a green material that can be obtained from natural sources such as plants, bacteria, algae or animals; being cost-effective, eco-friendly and renewable. Nanocellulose-based composites have become of great interest in biomedical applications, given their inherent biocompatibility. Since ancient times cellulose has been used in gauzes for treatment of wounds and at present time it offers a wide range of possibilities that have been opened up by nanotechnology. Nanocellulose obtained from microorganisms has similar morphology to collagen, the major component of extracellular matrices, and its applications are diverse, ranging from scaffolds for tissue engineering, implants for cell regeneration to biosensors. By opening up the medical field to composites, nanocellulose can offer significant advantages over the traditional materials, in many biomedical applications in which nanocellulose can play an important role because of its mechanical strength. Furthermore, nanocellulose can Biomimick several tissues such as cartilage, skin, blood vessels, among others. This chapter discusses some relevant biomedical applications of nanocellulose-based composites. In the medium to long term, nanocellulose-based composites will play an important role in developing in vitro tissues and organs, accelerating healing processes and improving life quality of mankind without impacting the environment.