Oxycellulose – a cellulose derivative with a potential to become an active pharmaceutical substance as well as an auxiliary substance

Overview

The review article is focused on one of the wide range of pharmaceutically and medicinally employed cellulose derivates – oxycellulose. This substance, prepared by oxidation of cellulose, in contrast to cellulose esters and ethers, has not been not employed in practice in a wide extent yet. However, recent studies reveal its potential use in modern therapeutical systems, whether as a release-modifying excipient, a drug carrier, or also an active substance with ability of hemostasis, prevention of tissue adhesion after surgical operations, and a substance with antimicrobial and immunomodulating activity, whose unique property of biodegradability, promoted by hypoallergenicity and non-irritability, has not been observed in any of the hitherto used cellulose derivates. The article presents a comprehensive overview about the history of this derivate, from its physico-chemical properties through the description of the ability of biodegradability to its already realized and planned utilization.

Key words:
oxycellulose – oxidized cellulose – biodegradability – hemostasia – modern therapeutical systems