JUTE fibre, long celebrated as the ‘golden fibre’ of Bangladesh, is composed primarily of cellulose, approximately sixty-four per cent, alongside lignin, hemicellulose and other natural substances. The cellulosic microfibrils that make up most of the fibre have now emerged as a hidden treasure for a wide range of advanced technological applications. With the advent of nanotechnology, researchers can transform jute cellulose into ultra-fine structures such as nanocellulose, cellulose nanowhiskers, cellulose nanocrystals and cellulose nanofibres. These derivatives are in high demand globally because they can be used to develop advanced materials for various applications, including medicine, energy, water purification, sensors and other cutting-edge fields.
In medical science, nanocellulose is proving to be particularly significant in tissue engineering, where it assists in the repair or replacement of damaged organs. Within the human body, tissues regenerate when cells grow and migrate within a supportive environment known as the extracellular matrix. This matrix provides the biochemical cues and nutrients necessary for cells to form new tissue, thereby accelerating healing. Electrospun cellulose nanofibres, produced through a specialised spinning process, closely mimic the natural structure of this matrix and are therefore strong candidates for use as scaffolds in tissue engineering. These scaffolds act as artificial frameworks that guide cell growth and tissue formation. Since cellulose nanofibres can be fashioned into nonwoven sheets, they are being explored as potential scaffolds for blood vessels, skin, cardiac tissue, nerves, liver, muscles and even ocular tissue.
Other jute-derived nanostructures such as cellulose nanowhiskers and nanocrystals, while not suitable for direct fabrication into sheets, can be combined with safe and bio-compatible polymers or gels to produce effective scaffolds. Studies have confirmed that these nanocellulose types promote cell adhesion, spreading and growth. Cellulose nanocrystals, in particular, enhance the strength and flexibility of synthetic scaffolds in both laboratory and clinical environments. Their inclusion also improves water absorption, a vital feature for supporting cell development in artificial tissues. Jute-based cellulose nanofibres can further be converted into conductive fibres or powders, facilitating electrical transmission, an essential property for nerve regeneration. Similarly, gels and sponges incorporating cellulose nanowhiskers and nanocrystals have shown encouraging results in strengthening artificial bone scaffolds. When used in three-dimensional printed structures, these materials enhance flexibility, resilience, and compatibility with cells, particularly in cardiac tissue engineering. Researchers have also produced bioinks, printing materials composed of living substances, by blending cellulose nanocrystals with alginate and specific cell types. These bioinks can replicate the structure of the liver and sustain living cells once printed.
Because cellulose nanowhiskers and nanocrystals contain abundant hydrogen bonds, they can retain water while simultaneously reinforcing the materials they constitute. This combination of moisture retention and mechanical strength makes them especially promising for ophthalmic tissue engineering. Their natural transparency and cell-friendly characteristics are crucial for creating artificial eye scaffolds from hydrogels. In living tissues, cells attach and grow with the aid of proteins such as fibronectin and collagen. To emulate this, scientists often modify scaffold surfaces to improve cell attachment. Conveniently, the chemical groups naturally present in cellulose nanowhiskers and nanocrystals simplify this surface activation process, expediting tissue regeneration and repair.
These materials’ large surface areas, biocompatibility and adaptability also make them valuable in drug delivery systems. They can be fashioned into gels, membranes, films, microparticles, or hydrogels. For instance, cellulose nanocrystals have been tested as carriers for anti-cancer drugs such as Paclitaxel and Docetaxel, improving the solubility of these otherwise water-insoluble compounds. The hydrogen bonding inherent in these nanostructures ensures that drugs are released gradually, enhancing therapeutic efficiency while reducing side effects. Cellulose nanowhisker-based nanoparticles and hydrogels are capable of delivering medication directly to targeted body sites, thereby increasing effectiveness and minimising dosage requirements.
Beyond healthcare, jute-derived nanocellulose holds considerable promise in the field of renewable energy. Cellulose nanowhiskers, nanocrystals and nanofibres are being studied as sustainable materials for energy storage devices such as supercapacitors and lithium-ion batteries, technologies that power mobile phones, electric vehicles, and large-scale energy grids. Carbon nanofibres obtained from electrospun cellulose nanofibres can serve as flexible electrodes for hybrid supercapacitors. When combined with carbon nanotubes, carbon black, or conductive metals, these materials exhibit enhanced electrical conductivity and, in some cases, superconductive potential. While cellulose-based electrodes are biodegradable and mechanically robust, their performance can be limited by excessive thickness. The high surface area of nanocellulose-based thin electrodes, however, offers greater ion transport capacity, making them promising candidates for commercial lithium-ion battery electrodes. Furthermore, electrospun cellulose nanofibres can act as efficient separators within these batteries, absorbing electrolytes, withstanding heat and maintaining stability under stress, ensuring safer energy storage.
Jute-based nanocellulose materials are equally promising in the realm of water purification. Nanostructured membranes possess minute pores that can block harmful contaminants larger than their openings. Aerogels derived from cellulose nanowhiskers, with their vast surface area, can be chemically treated to trap toxic substances and pathogens. Modified cellulose nanowhisker aerogels, for example, have successfully captured viruses such as Rotavirus and Norovirus. Meanwhile, carbon nanofibres coated with metal oxides can effectively remove hazardous dyes, and chemically treated cellulose nanofibre membranes can filter heavy metals from wastewater.
In addition to filtration and energy storage, jute-derived nanocellulose materials have become essential components in advanced sensor design. These materials can detect temperature, humidity, chemicals and biological signals with remarkable sensitivity. Their natural attributes — high surface area, structural stability, strength, and reactive surface chemistry — make them ideal for use in electrical, chemical, and biosensors. Cellulose nanocrystals, known for their distinctive optical behaviour, are particularly suited for optical and humidity sensors. Given their biocompatibility, nanocellulose-based sensors are being developed for wearable health monitoring devices, medical diagnostics, food quality control and environmental assessment. When combined with advanced materials such as graphene, metal oxides, or conductive polymers, their sensing performance is further enhanced. Moreover, the natural piezoelectric properties of cellulose nanocrystals are opening up new possibilities in nanogenerators, actuators and smart sensing systems.
In sum, jute’s identity is evolving far beyond its traditional use in ropes and textiles. Once valued chiefly for its role in rural economies and packaging industries, it now stands at the frontier of high technology — contributing to medical innovation, clean energy, water purification and intelligent sensing systems. For Bangladesh, this transformation of jute into a source of nanotechnological advancement offers not only economic revival but also the chance to reaffirm its place in the global scientific and industrial landscape. The once humble golden fibre may yet shine again, this time, as a beacon of sustainable innovation.
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Dr Md Kaiser Haider is a senior scientific officer at Bangladesh Jute Research Institute, Ministry of Agriculture.
