Bacterial nanocellulose: the future of controlled drug delivery?. (August 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pötzinger, Yvette; Kralisch, Dana; Fischer, Dagmar
• Is Part Of: Therapeutic delivery. Volume 8:Number 9(2017)
• Page Start: 753
• Page End: 761
• Publication Date: 2017-08
• Subjects: bacterial nanocellulose -- controlled release -- drug delivery -- production -- storage; Drug delivery systems -- Periodicals; Therapeutics -- Periodicals; 615.6
• DOI: 10.4155/tde-2017-0059
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2041-5990

Abstract

Although bacterial nanocellulose (BNC), a natural nanostructured biopolymer network, offers unique material characteristics, the number of drug-loaded BNC-based carriers in clinical trials or on the market is still low. This report provides an overview of aspects still limiting the broad application of BNC as drug-delivery system and the challenges for its future applications. Continuous large-scale production, storability, the loading and controlled release of critical drugs, for example, with high molar mass or highly lipophilic character as well as the formulation of long-term release systems will be highlighted. Recent achievements toward promoting the application of BNC as drug-delivery system and overcoming these obstacles will be discussed.