Open Access Journal of
eISSN: 2575-9086
Submit manuscript...
Literature Review Special Issue Palm Oil in Health and Technology
Oil palm fibre-derived nanocellulose for biomedical applications: A systematic review of drug delivery, tissue engineering, and wound healing
Loso Judijanto
Received: May 20, 2026 | Published: June 4, 2026
Citation: Judijanto L. Oil palm fibre-derived nanocellulose for biomedical applications: A systematic review of drug delivery, tissue engineering, and wound healing. Open Access J Sci. 2026;9(1):263-272. DOI: 10.15406/oajs.2026.09.00310
Abstract
This work is inspired by the escalating demand for eco-friendly and high-quality biomaterials, positioning nanocellulose as a viable candidate given its structural versatility and favourable interaction with biological systems. Accordingly, this study aims to provide a structured analysis and synthesis of scientific evidence related to the use of nanocellulose derived from oil palm fibre in biomedical applications, particularly in drug delivery, tissue regeneration, and wound management. The research adopts a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) approach to ensure a transparent, reproducible, and evidence-based synthesis of peer-reviewed literature. Data were collected through the Scopus database using a multistage filtering process, starting from 1,060 initial records and resulting in 35 eligible studies after applying topical relevance, time range (2019-2026), full-text accessibility, and eligibility criteria. The analysis was conducted through qualitative synthesis, focusing on identifying recurring themes and integrating findings across studies. The results reveal six dominant themes, including physicochemical properties, extraction efficiency, drug delivery performance, scaffold functionality, wound healing effectiveness, and surface modification strategies. The findings indicate that nanocellulose derived from oil palm fibre demonstrates strong structural integrity, tunable functionality, and consistent performance across biomedical applications. The material exhibits high adaptability through surface modification and composite formation, supporting its role in controlled drug delivery, tissue regeneration, and wound management systems. Overall, the evidence confirms that oil palm-derived nanocellulose represents a versatile and promising biomaterial platform. In conclusion, the material shows significant potential for biomedical innovation, supported by its functional properties and renewable origin. Future research is recommended to focus on standardising extraction methods, strengthening cross-domain integration, and enhancing application-oriented evaluation frameworks.
Keywords: nanocellulose, oil palm fibre, biomedical applications, drug delivery, tissue engineering
©2026 Judijanto. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and build upon your work non-commercially.