Nanocellulose: Synthesis, Structure, Properties and Applications

Nanocellulose, a unique and promising natural material extracted from native cellulose, has received immense interest for its broad spectrum of applications owing to its remarkable physical properties, special surface chemistry, and excellent biological properties (biocompatibility, biodegradability and low toxicity). In attempts to meet the requirements of humanity's well-being, biomaterials scientists taking advantage of the structure and properties of nanocellulose aim to develop new and formerly non-existing materials with novel and multifunctional properties.

This book highlights the importance of nanocellulose and reviews its synthesis, types, structure and properties. Further, it discusses various biofabrication approaches and applications of nanocellulose-based biomaterials in various fields such as the environment, biomedicine, optoelectronics, pharmaceutics, paper, renewable energy and the food industry. Devised to have a broad appeal, this book will be useful to beginners, who will appreciate its comprehensive approach, as well as active researchers, who will find the focus on recent advancements highly valuable.

Readership: A valuable reference source for university and college faculties, professionals, post-doctoral research fellows and senior graduate students working in nanotechnology and biomaterials. Its focus on applications will also make it appeal to biochemical, biomedical, environmental, and agricultural engineers.

Prof. Guang Yang received her BS and PhD degree in Polymer Science from Wuhan University in 1989 and 2000, respectively. She visited Johannes Gutenberg–Universitaet Mainz, Germany, as an Alexander von Humboldt fellow (2002–2004) and then Kyushu University in Japan as a JSPS (Japan Society for the Promotion of Science) fellow (2004–2006). In 2006, she moved to College of Life Science and Technology at Huazhong University of Science and Technology as a professor. In 2010, she was a senior visiting scholar at the University of Akron, USA. Her research interest focuses on bionic nanocomposites, nanoassembly of ordered eco-friendly materials and their structures and properties, design and fabrication of novel nanodrug transporters, and tissue engineering scaffold materials for biomedical applications, etc.

Dr Muhammad Wajid Ullah received his BS and MS degrees in Biotechnology from University of Peshawar and COMSATS University Islamabad, Pakistan, in 2009 and 2011, respectively. He worked as Research Associate at Biotechnology Laboratory at COMSATS University Islamabad, Pakistan (March 2011–October 2011). Then, he moved to South Korea and obtained his PhD degree in Chemical Engineering from Kyungpook National University in 2016. During his PhD, he was the recipient of KNU Honor Scholarship (KHS). Since March 2016, he has been working as a post-doctorate at Department of Biomedical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, PR China. His research interests include microbial biotemplating, 3D bioprinting, development of bacterial cellulose and other natural polymers-based functional materials, and development of cell-free systems for the production of biocommodities. He has published more than 60 articles in peer-reviewed international journals, authored more than 10 book chapters, and filed two patent applications.

Dr Zhijun Shi received his BS and PhD degrees in Biotechnology and Microbiology in 2008 and 2014, respectively, from Huazhong University of Science and Technology, PR China. From March 2014 to August 2019, he worked as a post-doctorate at Department of Biomedical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology. His research interests include biofabrication based on microbes and fabrication of functional hydrogels based on natural polymers. He has published more than 25 articles in various peer-reviewed international journals.