Medical and pharmaceutical application of oxidized cellulose

Cellulose is the most abundant natural polymer and versatile starting materialfor chemical modification for obtaining products with various applications. Theoxidation of cellulose results in derivatives with improved properties, includingthe products with new, specific features that can be used for medical andpharmaceutical purposes. Due to its biocompatibility and biodegradibility, theoxidized cellulose (6-carboxycellulose) is widely used as a hemostatic agent,as a barrier for the prevention of postsurgical adhesion, in bandage productsfor covering different wounds, as an excipient in the production of tablets,various gels and pharmaceutical suspensions. In addition to these applications,the oxidized cellulose may be used for the production of surgical sutures, as adrug carrier in products with gradual/controlled release, and as a material intissue engineering.