The clinical application of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) as pharmaceutical excipients has been hindered by the low yields (29 N) and minimal friability (<0.31%) than commercial microcrystalline cellulose and starch, yet achieved ultrarapid disintegration (∼3 s) driven by enhanced hydrophilicity and capillary action. Furthermore, life cycle assessment (LCA) demonstrated significant reductions in carbon footprint and energy consumption. Crucially, an in vitro gut microbiota model confirmed the biological safety of the CNCs, showing no adverse effects on the growth kinetics of core intestinal bacteria. This work provides a sustainable, scalable paradigm for next-generation pharmaceutical excipients.
Long et al. (Tue,) studied this question.