Rethinking Dispersion in Nanotechnology: Biopolymer Nanostructures as Green Enablers of Functional Integration

Resorting to new nanotechnology may solve nanotechnological challenges. In this perspective, it is highlighted that some nanomaterials coming from Nature are an incipient revolution, not only by their excellent properties per se, but also because these could be tools to turn the processing and applications of “classical” nanomaterials into fully sustainable outcomes, based on aqueous media, enabling green technological advances.

The integration of carbon-based and inorganic nanoparticles into practical technologies requires their dispersion in liquid media, a step that remains a major bottleneck due to structural degradation and unsustainable processing methods. Biopolymer ?>nanostructures, particularly nanocellulose, offer a dual advantage: they are high-performance, renewable materials and can facilitate the aqueous dispersion of otherwise insoluble or hydrophobic nanoparticles. This function extends beyond passive stabilization, potentially enabling more sustainable and structurally preserving processing routes. However, current literature often underrepresents this active role of nanocellulose. Here, initial findings that demonstrate nanocellulose's capacity to mediate nanoparticle dispersion while preserving their integrity and enhancing process sustainability are presented. These results suggest a broader utility for nanocellulose in nanotechnology, not merely as a support material but as a transformative processing agent. This perspective proposes a shift in how nanocellulose is viewed and utilized, potentially marking the beginning of a more sustainable paradigm in nanomaterials engineering.

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