Nanocellulose Research Articles

Optimizing the Dielectric and Mechanical Performance of 3D-Printed Cellulose-Based Biocomposites and Bionanocomposites through Factorial Design for Electrical Insulation Application.

Materials for low-permittivity and electrical insulation applications need to be re-engineered to achieve sustainable development. To address this challenge, the proposed study focused on the dielectric and mechanical optimization of 3D-printed cellulose-based composites for electrical insulation applications. Two different fillers, microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) and nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC), were used to create biocomposites and bionanocomposites, respectively, blended into a polylactic acid (PLA) matrix. The effects of infill ratio, printing temperature, and filler content on dielectric and mechanical properties were measured using an incomplete L9 (3^3) factorial design. The findings showed that the infill ratio was the most significant factor influencing the properties tested, directly attributable to the increase in material availability for polarization and mechanical performance. The second most influential factor was the filler content, increasing the polarity of the tested composites and decreasing the toughness of the biocomposites and bionanocomposites. Finally, printing temperature had no significant effect. Results for the biocomposites at a 50% infill ratio, 200 °C printing temperature, and a weight content of MCC of 15% gave a 60% higher tensile-mode stiffness than neat PLA printed under the same conditions, while exhibiting lower dielectric properties than neat PLA printed with a 100% infill ratio. These results pave the way for new lightweight materials for electrical insulation.

Lactic acid-facilitated surface modification of nanocellulose extracted from Borassus flabellifer leaves

Nanocellulose (NC) is revolutionizing the world of biopolymers. This research investigated the use of NC as an additive in polymer composites to enhance their structural and physio-chemical properties. The NC was extracted from Borassus flabellifer leaves and modified with lactic acid (LA). The leaves consisted of 62.2% cellulose, 15.8% hemicellulose, and 12.2% lignin by weight %. Alkali treatment was applied to obtain NCs with an average particle size of 317 nm. Characterization techniques, including SEM, FTIR, and XRD, are employed to evaluate the effectiveness of surface modification. The successful surface modification of NC with LA was confirmed by the presence of LA functional groups. XRD analysis revealed the crystalline nature of both the NCs and surface-modified NCs (SMNCs), with a higher crystalline index for the SMNCs (48.27%) than for the NCs (42.78%). The lower water absorption potential of SMNCs suggests their potential for use in biopolymer composites, demonstrating promising applications in materials science.

Nanocellulose/Nanoporous Silicon Composite Films as a Drug Delivery System.

Nanocellulose (NC) is a promising material for drug delivery due to its high surface area-to-volume ratio, biocompatibility, biodegradability, and versatility in various formats (nanoparticles, hydrogels, microspheres, membranes, and films). In this study, nanocellulose films were derived from "Bolaina blanca" (Guazuma crinita) and combined with nanoporous silicon microparticles (nPSi) in concentrations ranging from 0.1% to 1.0% (w/v), using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as a binding agent to create NC/nPSi composite films for drug delivery systems. The physicochemical properties of the samples were characterized using UV-Vis spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy-attenuated total reflectance (FTIR-ATR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The mechanical properties and drug release capabilities were also evaluated using methylene blue (MB) as an antibacterial drug model. Antibacterial assays were conducted against S. aureus and E. coli bacteria. The results show that NC/nPSi composites with 1% nPSi increased the T50% by 10 °C and enhanced mechanical properties, such as a 70% increase in the elastic modulus and a 372% increase in elongation, compared to NC films. Additionally, MB released from NC/nPSi composites effectively inhibited the growth of both bacteria. It was also observed that the diffusion coefficients were inversely proportional to the % nPSi. These findings suggest that this novel NC/nPSi-based material can serve as an effective controlled drug release system.

Biopolymeric electrolyte-based membrane on nanocrystalline cellulose/polyvinyl alcohol for a conceivable usage in proton exchange membrane fuel cell

In this study, we developed eco-friendly biopolymer electrolytes by blending nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and crosslinking them using glutaraldehyde. These membranes, denoted as NCC-x/PVA-y, were fabricated via the solution casting method. We thoroughly investigated the effects of different NCC to PVA ratios on various properties, including water uptake, swelling ratio, thermal and mechanical characteristics, proton conductivity, hydrogen permeation, and single Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) performances. Increasing the NCC concentration (ranging from 20 % to 60 %) led to enhanced surface roughness and compactness of ionic domains, resulting in improved dimensional stability and reduced hydrogen permeability across the membranes. Among the tested ratios, NCC-50/PVA-50 exhibited the highest proton conductivity, measuring 0.3 × 10−2 S cm−1. Notably, this ratio demonstrated a 60 % lower swelling ratio and lower hydrogen permeability (0.76 × 10−13 cm2/scmHg) compared to Nafion 117 (514 × 10−13 cm2/scmHg), indicating its superior performance. Furthermore, the NCC-50/PVA-50 membrane consistently maintained open-circuit voltages exceeding 0.9 V under all conditions, highlighting its effective proton transport capabilities and minimal fuel penetration. Density Functional Theory (DFT) analysis confirmed the successful cross-linking of NCC/PVA with glutaraldehyde, emphasizing its compatibility and potential for proton conductivity in PEMFC applications.

Photocatalytic hydrogen evolution on tubular shape cellulose acetate/crystalline nanocellulose/polyvinyl alcohol membranes with embedded nanocrystalline catalysts

In this work, we design an efficient and cost-effective porous membrane composed by polymeric blend that supports different photocatalytic materials. The thin (300 μm) porous photocatalytic membrane has a tubular shape and was flexible for easy handle in the reactor. The membrane is composed of a polymeric blend based on cellulose acetate, crystalline nanocellulose and polyvinyl alcohol, obtained by the phase inversion method, using cold water as non-solvent. Bismuthates (KBiO3, NaBiO3) and aluminates (ZnAl2O4 and Cu0·9Zn0·1Al2O4) powders were synthesized by diverse methodologies and were embedded into polymeric matrix. The hydrogen evolution performance of photocatalyst powders and photocatalytic composite membranes, under UV light irradiation during 180 min, were compared. The best result of hydrogen evolution was obtained by Cu0·9Zn0·1Al2O4 powders reaching 117.74 μmolg−1h−1 and the M−CuZn membrane reaching 90.07 μmolg−1h−1. The obtained results show the high potential of these polymeric membranes as a green alternative support for photocatalysts for hydrogen evolution.

Limitations of recent cellulose studies: How overzealous dispersion technique, fluorescence labeling and interpretation limit the findings of recent safety assessments for cellulose materials

Microfibrillated, nanofibrillated, and nanocrystalline cellulose materials are next-generation biobased cellulose materials with applications in the food industry as food contact materials and functional ingredients. Manufacturers have adopted a proactive approach to demonstrate the safety of these cellulose materials as they contribute toward a more sustainable economy. Animal studies and alternative testing approaches are needed to fill data gaps in the literature for the physicochemical and toxicological characterization of cellulose materials. Recently, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) funded a project that used New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) to assess the hazards of nanofibers, including methods to evaluate simulated gastrointestinal digestion, cellular uptake, local effects via simulated oral exposure, and gut-on-a-chip toxicity models. Upon review, we identified methodological and analytical limitations in these studies, which may affect the study conclusions that oral exposure to cellulose materials is associated with adverse effects. The aim of this Short Communication is to discuss the limitations of the reported findings in the NAM study and provide a balanced perspective of the study and of the safety of cellulose materials. This Short Communication highlights a major concern that the NAM study was published in the public domain without any peer review from cellulose experts. We identify and discuss several major limitations, including an unrealistic dispersion method, lack of controls in fluorescent labeling, lack of proper control groups in the experimental design, incomplete reporting of statistical analyses, bias toward reporting adverse effects, and inconsistent explanations of discordant results within the greater scientific literature.

Chemical Modification of Nanocrystalline Cellulose for Manufacturing of Osteoconductive Composite Materials.

Cellulose is one of the main renewable polymers whose properties are very attractive in many fields, including biomedical applications. The modification of nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) opens up the possibility of creating nanomaterials with properties of interest as well as combining them with other biomedical polymers. In this work, we proposed the covalent modification of NCC with amphiphilic polyanions such as modified heparin (Hep) and poly(αL-glutamic acid) (PGlu). The modification of NCC should overcome two drawbacks in the production of composite materials based on poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL), namely, (1) to improve the distribution of modified NCC in the PCL matrix, and (2) to provide the composite material with osteoconductive properties. The obtained specimens of modified NCC were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and solid-state 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, dynamic and electrophoretic light scattering, as well as thermogravimetric analysis. The morphology of PCL-based composites containing neat or modified NCC as filler was studied by optical and scanning electron microscopy. The mechanical properties of the obtained composites were examined in tensile tests. The homogeneity of filler distribution as well as the mechanical properties of the composites depended on the method of NCC modification and the amount of attached polyanion. In vitro biological evaluation showed improved adhesion of human fetal mesenchymal stem cells (FetMSCs) and human osteoblast-like cells (MG-63 osteosarcoma cell line) to PCL-based composites filled with NCC bearing Hep or PGlu derivatives compared to pure PCL. Furthermore, these composites demonstrated the osteoconductive properties in the experiment on the osteogenic differentiation of FetMSCs.

Nanocellulose-Based Resistive Sensors for Air Humidity Measurements

Introduction. The measurement of relative air humidity plays a crucial role in various aspects of human life, such as climate control systems, medical breath and skin hydration monitoring. Typically, humidity sensors use inorganic materials and petroleum-derived polymers. However, there is a growing trend towards the transition to biodegradable materials, which eliminates the need for waste disposal.Problem Statement. Currently, nanocellulose (NC) has been being explored as a promising material for humidity sensors. However, the influence of the chemical composition and nanoparticle size of NC on the sensor characteristics remains understudied.Purpose. This study aims to investigate the influence of the chemical composition and structure of NC on the parameters of humidity sensors.Materials and Methods. NC has been synthesized from reed stalks and wheat straw bz the oxidation and acid hydrolysis methods. NC-film sensors having a mass within 0.3—3 mg have been fabricated. The static parameters (response, sensitivity, reversibility, and repeatability) and the dynamic parameters (short and long-term stability, response and recovery time) of the sensors have been analyzed.Results. The manufacturing method influences the NC chemical composition, while the origin material affects its structure. The sensors produced by the oxidation method have demonstrated improved sensitivity (2.69 · 106), response (0.2 (%RH)–1), recovery time (60 s) and long-term stability (1.44%) as compared with those made by the hydrolysis method. Additionally, the application of wheat straw NC as origin material has resulted in improved reversibility (5%), repeatability (5% deviation), short-term stability (30% deviation), and response time (1 s) as compared with the reed stalks NC.Conclusions. It has been established that the origin material of nanocellulose influences the reversibility, repeatability, response time, and short-term stability of the sensors. The manufacturing method has effect on the sensitivity, response, recovery time, and long-term stability of the sensors.

Silver-nanoparticle-modified nanocellulose synthesized by pyroligneous acid: cytotoxicity towards HaCat cells

In the present study, pyroligneous acid, also known as wood vinegar, has been employed as reducing and stabilizing agent in the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) anchored on nanocellulose (NC). The idea is to confer the latter bactericidal properties for its typical uses such as in cosmetics and food-packing. It has been demonstrated that AgNPs can be directly produced onto NC in one-pot fashion while dramatically enhancing the kinetics of AgNPs synthesis (2 h for reaction completion) in comparison to the NC-less counterpart (10 days for reaction completion). Furthermore, NC allowed for a narrower size distribution of AgNPs. NC-supported and non-supported AgNPs had sizes of 5.1 ± 1.6 nm and 16.7 ± 4.62 nm, respectively. Immortalized human keratinocytes (HaCat) cells were then employed as model to evaluate the cytotoxicity of the AgNPs-NC compound. The latter was found not to impact cell proliferation at any formulation, while decreasing the viability by only 6.8% after 72 h. This study contributes to the development of more environmentally benign routes to produce nanomaterials and to the understanding of their impact on cells.

Monocomponent Biosorption of Copper Ions (II) onto Nanocrystalline Cellulose from Coconut Husk Fibers

Introduction: Nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) is one of the most suitable cellulose derivatives for the treatment of wastewater. Various agricultural wastes have been used for the extraction of NCC. Coconut wastes have been widely studied as potential adsorbents for the removal of pollutants, including dyes and heavy metals. Methods: In this work, nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) was successfully isolated from coconut husk fibers through alkaline pretreatment accompanied by sulfuric acid hydrolysis. Then, the ability of NCC to adsorb Cu2+ from aqueous solution in batch studies was investigated. Results: Results indicated that the optimal hydrolysis parameters were achieved at 50° C for 45 min with 64% sulfuric acid to extract NCC as rod-like particles with diameters between 4-10 nm. The potential of NCC as a biosorbent to remove copper ions (Cu2+) from aqueous solution was investigated in terms of batch mode and maximum adsorption capacity (qm) of 79.491 mg/g of Cu2+. The adsorption efficiency of Cu2+ions increased with an increase in the adsorbent dosage, decreased with an increase in the initial concentration of contaminant, and increased with the contact time. Under optimal conditions, adsorption kinetic followed a pseudo-second-order kinetic model and the adsorption isotherm fitted most closely with the Langmuir model. Conclusion: According to a literature review, NCC from coconut husk fibers has not been used for the adsorption of heavy metals, mainly copper ions. This study shows that NCC from coconut husk fibers can be used as a low-cost and environmentally friendly adsorbent for the removal of Cu2+ from aqueous solutions.

Eco-Friendly Isolated Nanocellulose from Seaweed Biomass via Modified-Acid and Electron Beam Process for Biodegradable Polymer Composites

Nanocellulose (NC) has emerged as a promising biodegradable material with applications in various industrial fields owing to its high mechanical strength, thermal stability, and eco-friendly properties. Traditional methods for isolating NC from wood-based biomass (WB) involve high energy consumption and extensive chemical usage, leading to environmental and sustainability concerns. This study explored an alternative approach to isolate NC from seaweed-based biomass (SB) (SNC), which contains fewer non-cellulosic components and a higher cellulose content than WB, thereby yielding a more efficient e-isolation process. We employed a combination of modified-acid solution and electron beam (E-beam) technology to isolate NC from SB. The E-beam process enhanced the crystallinity while reducing the particle size, thus facilitating NC isolation with reduced environmental impact and processing time. Moreover, our method significantly reduced the need for harsh chemical reagents and energy-intensive processes, which are typically associated with traditional NC isolation methods. We fabricated biodegradable films with improved mechanical properties using NC as a reinforcing agent in polymer composites, thereby demonstrating the potential of NC-based materials for various applications. Therefore, our proposed approach offers a sustainable and efficient method for NC isolation and serves as a guide for the development of eco-friendly industrial processes. Our findings contribute to ongoing efforts to create sustainable materials and reduce the environmental footprint of the manufacturing industry.

New trends in the valuation of micro and nanocrystalline cellulose and their derivatives extracted from the wastes of palm frond for curing of peptic ulcers

The current study was directed to explore new natural products that alleviate inflammation with the least harming effects on the gastric mucosa. This study examined the anti-ulcerative properties of micro and nanocrystalline cellulose (MCC, NCC) palm frond and their chemically modified samples (sulfated (SMCC and SNCC), methylated (MMCC and MNCC) and phosphorylated (PMCC and PNCC)). The lowest prebiotic index (I) was recorded in case of the MMCC and MNCC extract with L. Reuteri (I = 1) while the higher prebiotic index was recorded in case of the PMCC against L. casei (I = 3.7). All treated groups showed significant improvements in the ulcer scores (P < 0.05) compared to the control (indomethacin) group. However, MMCC showed marked effects similar to ranitidine. A significant decrease was found in pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and TNF-α) and pro-apoptotic gene (Bax) in all treated groups compared to the ulcer-induced group. In conclusion, the histopathological evaluation of MNCC, PNCC and SNCC had superior ameliorating effect on gastric ulcer induced in rats when compared to Omeprazole 20 mg/kg and other treated groups (MMCC, PMCC, SMCC).

Production of Nanocellulose from Sugarcane Bagasse and Development of Nanocellulose Conjugated with Polylysine for Fumonisin B1 Toxicity Absorption.

The present study aimed to extract nanocellulose (NC) from sugarcane bagasse agricultural waste through a chemical method (sulfuric acid hydrolysis and ultrasonication). Subsequently, the nanocellulose product was conjugated with polylysine (NC-PL) and assessed for its efficacy in reducing the toxicity of Fumonisin B1 (FB1), a mycotoxin produced by fungi commonly found in corn, wheat, and other grains. Experimental results confirmed the successful conjugation of NC and PL, as evidenced by FTIR peaks at 1635 and 1625 cm-1 indicating amide I and amide II vibrations in polylysine (PL). SEM analysis revealed a larger size due to PL coating, consistent with DLS results showing the increased size and positive charge (38.0 mV) on the NC-PL surface. Moreover, the effect of FB1 adsorption by NC and NC-PL was evaluated at various concentrations (0-200,000 μg/mL). NC-PL demonstrated the ability to adsorb FB1 at concentrations of 2000, 20,000, and 200,000 μg/mL, with adsorption efficiencies of 94.4-100%. Human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cells were utilized to assess NC and NC-PL cytotoxic effects. This result is a preliminary step towards standardizing results for future studies on their application as novel FB1 binders in food, food packaging, and functional feeds.

Cinnamon essential oil induced microbial stress metabolome indicates its active food packaging efficiency when incorporated into poly vinyl alcohol, engineered with zinc oxide nanoparticles and nanocellulose

In the study, Poly Vinyl Alcohol (PVA) films engineered with the nanoparticles and essential oils have been developed as efficient alternative to the currently used food packaging materials. For this, impact of cinnamon essential oil (CEO), on the metabolomic profile of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Aspergillus flavus was analysed. Subsequently, PVA based nanocomposite films CEO, zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs), and nanocellulose (NC) were synthesised and characterized by FT-IR analysis. By the GC–MS analysis. The presence of ZnONPs enhanced the release of cinnamaldehyde from 31.16 to 44.23 and further enhancement to 71.82 was seen the presence of nanocellulose. The incorporation of NPs was found to enhance the hydrodynamic and mechanical properties of the prepared films. The final developed films, PZNCCEO, showed the least values for WHC and MC which were 56.31 ± 2.12 % and 13.30 ± 0 % respectively. Antimicrobial efficacy could also be demonstrated through the observation on changes in the morphological features of treated S. aureus and E. coli by the FE-SEM. Finally, the developed nanocomposite film was found to have the potential for food packaging as demonstrated through the protection of corn kernals and Vigna unguiculata.

Anisotropic Chitosan-nanocellulose/Zeolite imidazolate frameworks-8 aerogel for sustainable dye removal

Assembling microscopic metal–organic frameworks into macroscopic polymeric scaffolds to develop highly renewable materials has been a promising yet challenging area of research. Herein, chitosan (CS) blended with nano-cellulose (NC) was unidirectionally transformed into an aerogel with oriented macropores and then biomineralized with zeolite imidazolate frameworks-8 (ZIF-8) to form a hierarchical structured chitosan-nanocellulose/zeolite imidazolate frameworks-8 (CS-NC-ZIF-8) hybrid aerogel. Incorporating ZIF-8 significantly increases the versatility and mechanical strength with a Young’s modulus of 14.18 MPa of the CS-NC aerogel. The incorporation of ZIF-8 into the aerogel not only enhances its adsorption capacity for methylene blue, rhodamine B, acid fuchsin, and methyl orange, but also facilitates the generation of electrons from water that can be transferred to degrade > 90 % of malachite green within 90 min in each catalytic cycle, and this capability was maintained for at least 10 consecutive cycles. Remarkably, the hybrid aerogel was highly renewable after the adsorption of cationic dyes and catalytic removal of malachite green. With its facile production process, high removal efficiency, affordable and green nature, and excellent regeneration feasibility, the CS-NC-ZIF-8 aerogel stands as a promising solution for addressing challenges associated with dye-contaminated water treatment.

Biopolymers and their Nanocomposites: Current Status and Future Prospects

Abstract: For many years, petroleum-based polymers have been successfully enhanced by the addition of nanoparticles as additives. Carbon nanotubes, graphene, nanoclays, 2-D layered materials, and cellulose nano whiskers are a few of the several nanoreinforcements that are currently being researched. In comparison to unmodified polymer resin, the use of these nanofillers with bio-based polymers could improve a wide range of physical properties, including barrier, flame resistance, thermal stability, solvent uptake, and rate of biodegradability. This nano-reinforcement is a very appealing method to create new functional biomaterials for a variety of applications because these enhancements are typically achieved at minimal filler content.

A Study on the Effect of Cellulose Nanocrystalline Paper on PVA-KOH Electrolyte Membranes for Increasing Ionic Conductivity

A Study on the Effect of Cellulose Nanocrystalline Paper on PVA-KOH Electrolyte Membranes for Increasing Ionic Conductivity

The influence of nanocellulose from different plant raw materials on the quality indicators of electrical insulation paper

An urgent scientific and practical task for electrical engineering enterprises is to improve the specific characteristics of component transformers and capacitors that use electrical insulating paper. Electrical insulating paper is characterized by a wide list of special quality indicators, the necessary values ​​of which are achieved due to the use of cellulose with special properties and various chemical auxiliary substances. There are known attempts to use nanocellulose (NC) from wood to reduce the consumption of harmful synthetic chemical auxiliaries, but there are practically no research results on the impact of consumption of NC from non-wood plant materials. Therefore, in the work, a comparative study of the effect of NC from hemp fibers and coniferous wood on the target indicators of the quality of electrical insulating paper was carried out. For this, cellulose, suitable for extracting NC from hemp fibers, was obtained by an environmentally safe organosolv method. NC is obtained as a result of acid hydrolysis of organosolv hemp and sulfate unbleached coniferous cellulose, which is traditionally used in the production of electrical insulating paper. Laboratory samples of electrical insulating paper were made with a weight of 65±3 g/m2 from sulfated unbleached coniferous cellulose with the addition from 1% to 5% NC by weight of paper. The research results confirmed the hypothesis that the addition of NC paper pulp from various plant raw materials leads to an increase in the mechanical and electrical strength of the paper. It has been established that the effect of NC from hemp fibers on the quality indicators of electrical insulation paper is not inferior to the effect on them of NC from coniferous wood, and in some cases even a better result is observed. It was established that the introduction of NC into the composition of paper practically does not reduce its degree of polymerization, which is of great importance for maintaining high reliability and a long duration of work of paper insulation. The obtained results have scientific and practical significance for other types of insulating papers: capacitor, cable, telephone, impregnation, transformer, etc.

Surface functionalization of cellulose nanocrystals for fabricating of anti-freezing and self-healing nanocomposites hydrogels

In recent years, biomass-based self-healing hydrogels have shown great potential, but are incredibly prone to freezing at low temperature. It is therefore essential to develop hydrogels with excellent frost resistance. In this work, cellulose nanocrystalline functional nanomaterials (CNC-g-GB) were successfully prepared by grafting betaine hydrochloride (GB-HCl) onto cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) surface in an environmentally friendly deep eutectic solvent (BhG DES) through esterification. Self-healing hydrogels with antifreeze properties were prepared by a one-pot method using amphoteric guar gum (AGG) and poly (acrylic acid) (PAA) as hydrogel matrix and Fe(Ⅲ) as cross-linking agent. The hydrogel was named AGG/CNC-g-GB hydrogel. Due to the intense hydration of cations and anions in AGG and the metal coordination of Fe(Ⅲ) with the hydrogel network, the hydrogel has pretty freezing resistance (−20.0 °C) and self-healing rate (86.0%). It provides new ideas for developing hydrogels with enhanced cold resistance and self-healing properties.

In situ biomineralization reinforcing anisotropic nanocellulose scaffolds for guiding the differentiation of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells

Nanocellulose (NC) is a promising biopolymer for various biomedical applications owing to its biocompatibility and low toxicity. However, it faces challenges in tissue engineering (TE) applications due to the inconsistency of the microenvironment within the NC-based scaffolds with target tissues, including anisotropy microstructure and biomechanics. To address this challenge, a facile swelling-induced nanofiber alignment and a novel in situ biomineralization reinforcement strategies were developed for the preparation of NC-based scaffolds with tunable anisotropic structure and mechanical strength for guiding the differentiation of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells for potential TE application. The bacterial cellulose (BC) and cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) based scaffolds with tunable swelling anisotropic index in the range of 10–100 could be prepared by controlling the swelling medium. The in situ biomineralization efficiently reinforced the scaffolds with 2–4 times and 10–20 times modulus increasement for BC and CNFs, respectively. The scaffolds with higher mechanical strength were superior in supporting cell growth and proliferation, suggesting the potential application in TE application. This work demonstrated the feasibility of the proposed strategy in the preparation of scaffolds with mechanical anisotropy to induce cells-directed differentiation for TE applications.