What is cellulose in medicine and how is it used?

December 25, 2025 •

4 min read

Over 80% of all oral drug dosage forms are tablets, and the vast majority of these contain cellulose or its derivatives. Cellulose in medicine is a versatile, plant-based polymer that acts primarily as an inert, non-active ingredient known as an excipient, playing crucial roles in formulation stability, drug release, and delivery.

Quick Summary

Cellulose is a primary component in many pharmaceutical products, functioning as an excipient in tablets, capsules, and liquid formulations. Its derivatives control drug release, improve stability, and serve in advanced applications like wound dressings and tissue engineering.

Key Points

Excipient Function: Cellulose is primarily used in medicine as an inactive excipient to bind, fill, and stabilize drugs in formulations, ensuring proper dosage form characteristics.
Versatile Derivatives: Chemical modifications of cellulose create diverse derivatives like Microcrystalline Cellulose (MCC) and Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose (HPMC), each with tailored properties for specific drug delivery needs.
Controlled Release: Certain cellulose derivatives, such as ethylcellulose (EC) and HPMC, are used to create coatings and matrices that control the rate at which a drug is released into the body.
Advanced Biomaterials: Beyond oral medications, cellulose is a key component in advanced biomedical applications like wound dressings, tissue engineering scaffolds, and bioadhesives due to its biocompatibility.
Protective Coatings: Derivatives like Cellulose Acetate Phthalate (CAP) are used to create enteric coatings that protect drugs from stomach acid, ensuring they are released only in the intestines.
Biocompatible and Renewable: As a natural, plant-based polymer, cellulose offers a sustainable, non-toxic, and biodegradable option for pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturing.

What is cellulose? A versatile natural polymer

Cellulose is the most abundant organic polymer on Earth, a long-chain polysaccharide found in the cell walls of plants. It is composed of a linear chain of hundreds to thousands of β(1→4) linked D-glucopyranose units. Its robust, insoluble nature is harnessed in many industries, including textiles, paper, and food, and it is a cornerstone of modern pharmaceuticals.

Unlike active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), which have direct therapeutic effects, cellulose in medicine is primarily used as an excipient. Excipients are inactive substances that serve as carriers for the API, influencing the drug's properties without affecting its action. The versatility of cellulose comes from its ability to be chemically modified into various derivatives, each with unique properties suited to specific pharmaceutical applications.

The many uses of cellulose derivatives in pharmaceuticals

Cellulose derivatives are broadly classified into two main groups: cellulose ethers and cellulose esters.

Cellulose Ethers

Microcrystalline Cellulose (MCC): A purified, partly depolymerized cellulose, MCC is arguably the most common excipient in the industry. It is used as a binder for tablets and granules, a filler to add bulk, and a disintegrant to help solid dosage forms break apart in the digestive tract. Its excellent compressibility makes it a favorite for direct compression tablet manufacturing.
Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose (HPMC): Also known as hypromellose, HPMC is a versatile, water-soluble polymer used as a thickening, suspending, and stabilizing agent in liquid formulations. In solid dosage forms, HPMC is used for film coatings and as a matrix for extended-release tablets, forming a gel barrier that controls drug diffusion.
Carboxymethyl Cellulose (CMC): A water-soluble, anionic derivative, CMC acts as a thickener, stabilizer, and film-former. It is widely used in oral suspensions, gels, and as a disintegrant in tablets and capsules.
Ethylcellulose (EC): As a water-insoluble polymer, EC is primarily used for taste-masking and as a film coating for sustained-release formulations. It acts as a barrier to control the drug's release rate by diffusion.

Cellulose Esters

Cellulose Acetate Phthalate (CAP): A pH-dependent polymer used for enteric coatings. CAP coatings resist the acidic environment of the stomach but dissolve in the higher pH of the small intestine, protecting the drug or the stomach lining from irritation.
Cellulose Acetate (CA): Used as a film-forming agent and in semi-permeable membranes for osmotic drug delivery systems, which release drugs at a controlled rate.

Advanced biomedical and clinical applications

Beyond traditional excipient functions, cellulose and its derivatives are playing an increasingly important role in modern medical technologies.

Wound Dressings: Cellulose and its derivatives, particularly bacterial cellulose and nanofibrillated cellulose, are prized for their high water retention, biocompatibility, and fibrous structure similar to the body's extracellular matrix. They are used in advanced wound dressings to absorb exudates, maintain a moist environment for healing, and provide a protective barrier against infection.
Tissue Engineering: The unique structural properties of bacterial cellulose make it an ideal scaffold material for tissue regeneration. Its compatibility and microporous network support cell adhesion and growth, paving the way for applications in repairing damaged tissues, from skin to blood vessels.
Drug Delivery Systems: Researchers are developing innovative cellulose-based systems for targeted and controlled drug delivery. This includes encapsulating drugs within cellulose-based nanoparticles, utilizing pH-responsive hydrogels for targeted release in specific parts of the body, and creating bioadhesive films that adhere to biological membranes.

Comparison of common cellulose derivatives in medicine


Derivative	Primary Use(s)	Function	Properties	Applications
Microcrystalline Cellulose (MCC)	Tablets, Capsules	Binder, Filler, Disintegrant	Excellent compressibility, high surface area, inert	Solid dosage forms, direct compression
Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose (HPMC)	Oral/Liquid Medications, Films	Thickener, Stabilizer, Coating	Water-soluble, forms a hydrogel, versatile viscosity grades	Extended-release tablets, liquid suspensions, coatings
Carboxymethyl Cellulose (CMC)	Oral/Liquid Medications, Gels	Thickener, Stabilizer, Disintegrant	Water-soluble, anionic, increases viscosity	Oral suspensions, gels, emulsions, topical creams
Ethylcellulose (EC)	Coatings	Film-former, Taste-masker, Controlled Release	Water-insoluble, controls drug diffusion	Sustained-release tablets, protective coatings
Cellulose Acetate Phthalate (CAP)	Coatings	Enteric Coating, Delayed Release	pH-sensitive, resists acid, dissolves in intestine	Medications for stomach-sensitive drugs

The future of cellulose in medicine

The field of cellulose-based biomaterials continues to evolve rapidly. Ongoing research focuses on modifying cellulose to create even more sophisticated and functional materials. Advances in nanotechnology are enabling the production of nanocellulose with unique properties for enhanced drug solubility and targeted delivery. With its abundance, renewability, and low cost, cellulose is a sustainable and powerful platform for future pharmaceutical innovation, from personalized medicine to regenerative therapies.

Conclusion

In conclusion, cellulose in medicine serves far more than a simple filler role. This ubiquitous natural polymer is chemically modified to produce a wide range of versatile excipients, from microcrystalline cellulose used for binding tablets to sophisticated ether and ester derivatives that enable advanced drug delivery and protective coatings. Its expanding applications in modern medicine, including state-of-the-art wound dressings and tissue engineering scaffolds, highlight its importance as a biocompatible, biodegradable, and highly functional biomaterial. As research progresses, cellulose will continue to be a cornerstone of pharmaceutical formulation and a key player in the development of next-generation medical solutions.

Authoritative Source

Future Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences - Cellulose and its derivatives: Structure, modification, and drug delivery applications

Frequently Asked Questions

MCC is a common pharmaceutical excipient used primarily as a binder, filler, and disintegrant in tablets and capsules. Its excellent compressibility allows for efficient tablet manufacturing through direct compression.

Cellulose, particularly bacterial and nanofibrillated cellulose, is used to make advanced wound dressings. These materials help maintain a moist wound environment, absorb excess fluid, and act as a protective barrier to promote healing.

Yes, cellulose derivatives like hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) and ethylcellulose (EC) are crucial for sustained-release formulations. They are used to create matrix tablets or film coatings that control the drug's release rate over an extended period.

No, cellulose used in medicine is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) by regulatory bodies like the FDA. It is an inert and non-digestible substance that is not absorbed by the body, although excessive amounts could cause digestive discomfort due to its high fiber content.

An enteric coating is a special pH-sensitive film designed to resist stomach acid and dissolve in the intestines. Cellulose derivatives like cellulose acetate phthalate (CAP) are commonly used to create these coatings, protecting drugs or preventing stomach irritation.

In liquid medications like suspensions and gels, water-soluble cellulose ethers such as hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) are used as thickening, suspending, and stabilizing agents to improve texture and shelf life.

Yes, bacterial cellulose, with its biocompatibility and nanostructure, is an excellent scaffold material for tissue regeneration in tissue engineering. It supports the adhesion and growth of cells, making it suitable for repairing various damaged tissues.