Innovative Applications of Nanocellulose in 3D Printing: A Review

Abstract

Cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) and cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) are nanoscale materials with unique mechanical properties and geometry that attract considerable interest in recent years for a wide range of applications. This review pays special attention to the recent progress of CNFs and CNCs assisted 3D printing in medicine, food, engineering, and architecture fields. Various types of CNFs and CNCs used for 3D printing are summarized. The addition of nanocellulose improves the printability and quality of printed objects in certain cases, leading to greater accuracy and durability. The created functional structures with specific properties have promising applications in various fields such as medicine and food preservation and viscosity enhancement. Finally, this work highlights the transformative potential of nanocellulose-assisted 3D printing to revolutionize a range of fields and the need for continued research and development to overcome current technical challenges.