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.
Financial & competing interests disclosure
D Kralisch is CTO of JeNaCell GmbH. D Fischer is a member of the scientific board of JeNaCell GmbH. This work was supported by the Free State of Thuringia and the European Social Fund (2016 FGR 0045). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.
No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.