Recent advances in nanocellulose-based polymer nanocomposites

The development of sustainable and renewable reinforcing materials is an active research area due to growing ecological and human constraints. Cellulose is one of the most abundant and widely distributed renewable biomass-derived reinforcement materials obtained from plant biomass and algae worldwide. Nanocellulose, the most promising alternative nanosized filler for both thermoset and thermoplastic polymers such as polypropylene, polystyrene and high-density polyethylene, offers high strength, stiffness, lower weight, thermal stability, flame retardancy, and biodegradability. The properties of developed cellulosic nanocomposites in turn are solely governed by dispersion and distribution incorporated filler. Currently, significant research effort has been made to fabricate high-performance and multifunctional nanocellulose-reinforced biopolymer composites through solvent casting, batch processing, and melt processing methods.This article is intended as a literature review on nanocellulose structure, synthesis, and characterization. The present review also provides a comprehensive research report on the modifications of nanocellulose for improving compatibility with hydrophobic polymers, in addition to the recent developments in the fabrication and applications of cellulosic nanocomposites in different fields including biomedical films, membranes, and drug delivery.