The present invention provides a process for the preparation of essential oil modified nanocellulose and applications thereof. The invention further provides a process wherein the essential oil is covalently bonded with the nanocellulose such that the essential oil does not leach out. The edible coatings comprising the developed essential oil modified nanocellulose thus exhibit a prolonged antimicrobial effect.

Disclosed are processes for manufacturing cross-linked cellulosic fibers and tissue products comprising cross-linked cellulosic fibers, manufactured by reacting an oxidized polyol, in particular, an oxidized sugar having at least two aldehyde groups with a plurality of cellulosic fibers to yield treated fibers and heating the treated fibers at a temperature greater than about 140 C. to cure the treated fibers. In particular, said sugar is sucrose and the oxidising agent comprises hydrogen peroxide. The instant cross-linked fibers are manufactured without well-known cross-linking agents such as formaldehyde or polycarboxylic acids, and have good brightness and color and resist yellowing. Furthermore, the cross-linked cellulosic fibers are generally free from off odors and the instant cross-linked cellulosic fibers have enhanced properties, such as improved wet bulk, compared to uncross-linked fibers.

The present invention provides a process for the preparation of essential oil modified nanocellulose and applications thereof. The invention further provides a process wherein the essential oil is covalently bonded with the nanocellulose such that the essential oil does not leach out. The edible coatings comprising the developed essential oil modified nanocellulose thus exhibit a prolonged antimicrobial effect.

Disclosed are processes for manufacturing cross-linked cellulosic fibers and tissue products comprising cross-linked cellulosic fibers, manufactured by reacting an oxidized polyol, in particular, an oxidized sugar having at least two aldehyde groups with a plurality of cellulosic fibers to yield treated fibers and heating the treated fibers at a temperature greater than about 140? C. to cure the treated fibers. In particular, said sugar is sucrose and the oxidising agent comprises hydrogen peroxide. The instant cross-linked fibers are manufactured without well-known cross-linking agents such as formaldehyde or polycarboxylic acids, and have good brightness and color and resist yellowing. Furthermore, the cross-linked cellulosic fibers are generally free from off odors and the instant cross-linked cellulosic fibers have enhanced properties, such as improved wet bulk, compared to uncross-linked fibers.

Disclosed are processes for manufacturing cross-linked cellulosic fibers, as well as cross-linked fibers prepared by the same and tissue products comprising the novel cross-linked cellulosic fibers. The cross-linked fibers are manufactured by reacting an oxidized sugar having at least two aldehyde groups with a plurality of cellulosic fibers to yield treated fibers and heating the treated fibers at a temperature greater than about 140? C. to cure the treated fibers. The instant cross-linked fibers are manufactured without well-known cross-linking agents such as formaldehyde or polycarboxylic acids. As such the present cross-linked cellulosic fibers have good brightness and color and resist yellowing. Further, the cross-linked cellulosic fibers are generally free from off odors. Like prior art cross-linked fibers however, the instant cross-linked cellulosic fibers have enhanced properties, such as improved wet bulk, compared to uncross-linked fibers.

The method of fabricating biocompatible cellulose nanofibrils produces cellulose nanofibrils from used agro-waste Borassus flabellifer leaf stalks. The method uses a three-step process, including alkali treatment, bleaching, and acid hydrolysis to produce cellulose nanofibrils, which may be converted to pellets for storage. The pellets may be converted to a transparent film for cell attachment by dispersion in water and heating in a hot air oven. Testing shows that cellulose nanofibrils made by the method easily attract human mesenchymal stem cells and will be applicable for skin tissue engineering applications.