High-performance nanomesh-structured cellulose as a versatile pharmaceutical excipient

Biocompatible cellulose has been used as a pharmaceutical excipient for several decades. However, there are still shortcomings, such as low drug loading, slow disintegration, and easy drug extraction. Herein, we describe a novel process for manufacturing cellulose nanomesh (CNM), a new structured nanocellulose with a high surface area of 98.37 m2g−1 and a high yield above 88%. This process combines mild acid vapor with a dilute enzymatic hydrolysis preparation method. The unique nanomesh structure clearly demonstrates benefits as superior drug carriers, including a high drug loading rate (>81.2%), miniaturizing volume, ultrafast disintegration time (<7 s), long-term sustained release (22 h), and also a strong drug-abuse deterrent effect. Our work suggests that the CNM produces great potential as a promising multi-functional drug carrier to realize tablet miniaturization, drug abuse-deterrent, and drug slow and controlled release.