Materials Science, Nanotechnology and Nanomaterials Conference

Nanocellulose-Based Materials: Sustainable innovation is defined as a positive yet gradual change in product or service design that is based on technology, in this case, nanotechnology.

Novel nanocellulose composites are becoming popular candidates for various applications because they are biodegradable and show high potential for application in diverse areas from food packaging to biomedical sciences. Nanocellulose is a new type of material that is derived from natural cellulose, it is renewable, biodegradable, and environmentally friendly for those industries which seek to green their operations.

There are different types of nanocellulose namely, cellulose nanofibers (CNF), cellulose nanocrystals (CNC), and bacterial nanocellulose (BNC). These structures demonstrate great mechanical performance, namely, high strength, and stiffness while being exceptionally lightweight. This makes nanocellulose an adding factor in composite materials that enables manufacturers to cut on carbon foot print but deliver good and strong products.

In packaging the field for applications of nanocellulose has been realized for it to replace traditional plastics that are non-biodegradable. Moreover, the films made of nanocellulose revealed good barrier properties and their advantage for food packaging and protective coatings, and, in addition, they are fully biodegradable. These materials offer good barrier properties against oxygen and moisture: mitigating the perishment of products while curtailing plastic consumption.

Nanocellulose is also finding its way into biomedical engineering. Because of its biocompatibility, it finds its application in wound healing, tissue engineering, and drug delivery applications. The nanocellulose hydrogels can swell and imbibe a lot of water yet retain strength thus they are applicable in tissue engineering and wound dressing.

However, the electrical conductivity and thermal stability of nanocellulose also puts it in a useful position in flexible electronics and energy storage applications. It is promising to be used for paper electronics and nanocomposite which includes high strength, flexibility, and electrical conductivity.

Thus, nanocellulose-based innovations will persistently increase as an answer to the growing demand for sustainable materials to be used in various industries.