The use of cellulosic materials as supports for immobilization of small molecules, proteins, and cells has received considerable attention for many years and possible applications have been pursued extensively ( 1 – 14 ). Chemically, cellulose is composed of β- D -glucopyranosyl units linked by (1 → 4) bonds (Fig. 1 ) and with additional interchain interaction through hydrogen bonds, some of which form the so-called elementary fibrils ( 15 ). Elementary fibrils contain highly ordered crystalline regions and more accessible amorphous regions of a low degree of order. Cellulose is available in many different physical forms, such as fibers, microgranules, microcrystals, beads, gel particles, capsules, and membranes. Less pure cellulosic materials are used in industrial processes in the form of ropes, pulps, chippings, cloths, and paper. Fig. 1. Chemical structure of cellulose.
