Functionalized Cellulose Derivatives: Challenge or Opportunity in the Field of Chiral and Achiral Sensing

Cellulose is recognized as an abundant, renewable, and optically active carbohydrate polymer resource. Among numerous cellulose derivatives, microcrystalline cellulose derivatives primarily consist of ester derivatives such as benzoate, phenyl carbamate, and formate. These complex derivatives have stable helical configurations and abundant recognition sites. Moreover, the polymer chain can also amplify the recognition signal, which can significantly enhance the sensitivity and binding affinity of the recognition group to specific substrates, thereby improving their overall performance in targeted interaction. They exhibit excellent sensing performance and demonstrate significant potential in both chiral and non-chiral sensing applications. The development of sensing materials through grafting fluorescent functional groups onto microcrystalline cellulose frameworks is identified as a crucial approach for high-value utilization of cellulose. This review systematically summarized the applications of microcrystalline cellulose derivatives in chiral sensing from the perspectives of chiral chromatographic separation and chiral fluorescence sensing, while their emerging applications in non-chiral sensing were reviewed through the lens of metal ion recognition. Future directions and application prospects were discussed for phenyl carbamate and formate derivatives of cellulose in both chiral and non-chiral domains. The findings were expected to provide valuable references for researchers engaged in microcrystalline cellulose functionalization studies and to inspire novel approaches for advanced cellulose modification.