Bamboo Parenchymal Cells: An Untapped Bio-Based Resource for Sustainable Material

Bamboo parenchymal cells (PCs) represent an underutilized resource with significant potential as a sustainable and versatile bio-based material. Despite the extensive research on bamboo fibers, PCs, comprising a considerable portion of bamboo, have been largely overlooked. This review examines the multi-scale structure of bamboo PCs, including their microcapsules, multi-wall layers, and pits, which provide the structural foundation for diverse applications. Various physical and chemical isolation methods, impacting the properties of extracted PCs, are also discussed. Notably, the review explores the promising applications of bamboo PCs, highlighting their use as filler materials in formaldehyde-free composites, as components in phase-change materials and supercapacitors, as sources for biodegradable microcapsules and antimicrobial hydrogels, as precursors for activated carbon in environmental remediation, and as a valuable feedstock for biomass refining processes. This comprehensive analysis underscores the importance of bamboo PCs in the development of renewable materials, encouraging further research to fully harness their capabilities.