SUSTAINABLE PATHWAYS IN CELLULOSE AND HEMICELLULOSE NANOMATERIALS FOR THERAPEUTIC APPLICATIONS

The growing attention towards sustainable and environment-friendly resources has spurred research into nanostructured materials derived from plant residues, mainly from cellulose and hemicellulose. These materials provide affordable, biocompatible, and renewable substitutes for various industrial uses. Plant biomass is largely composed of cellulose, which has excellent mechanical properties and wide applications. Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs), and bacterial nanocellulose (BNCs) are produced by mechanical, chemical, and enzymatic methods; each has distinct properties that make them useful for a variety of applications. Xylan is the most important hemicellulose nanoparticle, with strong biocompatibility and many biomedical applications. Cellulose and hemicellulose-based nanoparticles have applications in drug delivery, wound healing, tissue engineering, smart packaging, and biosensors. The use of advanced nanomaterials in fields such as electronics, biomedicine, the environment, wastewater treatment, the textile Industry, construction, and cultural heritage conservation is possible through the formation of cellulose- and hemicellulose-based nanomaterials. This review aims to fill gaps in the existing literature and promote new research directions toward green technology. This review also aims to support future collaborative research across interdisciplinary fields and promote the circular economy by converting waste into high-value products.