Home⇛International Journal of Multidisciplinary: Applied Business and Education Research⇛vol. 6 no. 8 (2025)

Nanocellulose and Phycocyanin as Viable Additives for Electrospun Fibers: A Review of Functional Properties, Electrospinning Parameters, and Physicochemical Characterization

Tabitha P. Vergel De Dios | Mia A. Luares | Myiesha Dane C. Calibara | Samuel Nelson G. Arboleda | John Ray C. Estrellado

Discipline: Development Studies

 

Abstract:

This literature review aims to highlight the developments and fu-ture directions in the use of nanocellulose and phycocyanin as elec-trospinning additives for biomedical applications, specifically in wound healing. Nanocellulose, a cellulose derivative known for its surface area, mechanical strength, and biocompatibility, is proposed as a sustainable alternative to enhancers of mechanical properties. Phycocyanin, a blue pigment from cyanobacteria, possesses anti-in-flammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties, which may potentially enhance the performance of nanocellulose. The combi-nation of the two components in electrospun fibers demonstrates significant promise for effective wound healing applications. How-ever, progress is limited by the scarcity of experimental studies in-tegrating both materials. One of the future directions of the study is improving the stability and shelf-life of phycocyanin within nano-fibers, including approaches such as encapsulation and protective coatings. Scaling and manufacturing challenges, including high en-ergy consumption and harsh chemical treatments in nanocellulose extraction, as well as the parameters of electrospinning, need to be addressed to enable mainstream commercialization. Further explo-ration of sustainable and purely physical extraction methods for nanocellulose is also critical for environmentally friendly alterna-tives to process scale-up and intensification.



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