Application of Nanocellulose Derivatives as Drug Carriers; A Novel Approach in Drug Delivery.

BACKGROUND The production of nanocellulose for drug delivery systems has achieved increased attention in the past decade. High capacity for swelling and absorption of the liquid phase, high flexibility in creating different derivatives, economical cost and ease of access to the primary source, all of these properties have encouraged researchers to use nanocellulose and its derivatives as a highperformance drug carrier. OBJECTIVE We summarize the recent progresses of cellulose-based nanocarriers designing and practical approaches in drug delivery. METHODS We conducted a literature review on the development of the nanocellulose and its derivatives as a highperformance drug carrier. RESULTS In this review, we have attempted to present the latest advances in cellulose modifications for the design of pharmaceutical nanocarriers. at first, cellulose properties and structural classification of nanocellulose were introduced. Then, focusing on medical applications, some efforts and laboratory trials in cellulose-based nano designing were also discussed. The findings demonstrate the benefits of nanocellulose in drug delivery and its potential for modifying by adding functional groups to enhance drug delivery efficiency. Due to the physical and chemical properties of cellulose and its high flexibility to interact with other compounds, a broad perspective can be imagined in the diverse research and novel forms of nanocarriers. CONCLUSION The cellulose nanocarriers can be considered as an attractive platform for researchers to design new structures of pharmaceutical carriers and increase the efficiency of these nanocarriers in drug delivery for the treatment of diseases such as cancer.