Nanocellulose with dual carboxy and aldehyde functionality: a modular platform for hydrogel formation and sustained drug release

biocompatibility. As a proof-of-concept, the chemotherapeutic agent doxorubicin was incorporated into selected hydrogel formulations, showing a sustained release over three weeks without a burst effect. These findings highlight the potential of bifunctional CNCs as a modular and customizable platform for the development of injectable hydrogels for prolonged local drug delivery.