Physicochemical, polymeric and microbial modifications of wood toward advanced functional applications: a review

As concern for environmental sustainability continues to grow, wood, as a renewable resource and a composite of natural polymers (cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin), has garnered increasing research attention. Traditional wood may have certain limitations in specific applications, such as being susceptible to moisture and biological degradation, as well as shortcomings in strength and durability. Therefore, wood modification has become a crucial strategy to enhance its performance and broaden its range of applications. This review provides a detailed analysis of how physicochemical, polymer composite, and biological modification techniques can extend the service life of wood, consequently reducing reliance on non-renewable polymer resources. Additionally, modified wood can be applied in various scenarios, including construction, smart packaging, flexible electronics, biomedical devices, and seawater evaporation units. In the future, the field of wood modification is expected to further improve the performance and broaden the application potential of wood through the introduction of more environmentally friendly technologies and the development of new functional materials.