Thomas Meslier and Anna Roig, from the Nanocomposites and Nanoparticles Group at the ICMAB, published the review together with Justin D’Antin and Gemma Julio, researchers of the Centro de Oftalmología Barraquer (Ophtalmologic Clinic Barraquer).
The review addresses an important gap in the biomedical literature: although bacterial cellulose (BC) has been studied for decades, there was no systematic summary of all clinical trials and human studies available until now. This paper compiles and organizes the evidence, offering a valuable resource for researchers and clinicians who are planning new clinical investigations.
About the review
The article presents a comprehensive overview of clinical research on bacterial cellulose, from its earliest medical applications to the most recent innovations. Thomas Meslier, first author of the review, explains that although many articles discuss the uses of bacterial cellulose, there was no summary of all clinical trials conducted in humans: "When you start a clinical study, you need to know what has been done before to justify and guide your work. The aim of this review is to provide exactly that: a source document for future studies”.
The review covers BC-based medical products from the 1980s to current advances. A historical timeline included in the paper traces the evolution of BC clinical studies, showing a significant increase in publications since 2010. Over time, both the scope and the quality of the clinical trials have improved significantly, too.
“When you start a clinical study, you need to know what has been done before to justify and guide your work. The aim of this review is to provide exactly that: a source document for future studies”
Additionally, the article presents the BC-based products that are already available, supported by regulatory approvals, and outlines the historical progression from preclinical research to commercial availability. The review is structured by therapeutic areas, including:
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Burns
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Ulcers
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Implants
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Other applications
Beyond cataloguing studies, the review also assesses the types of clinical investigations performed and their methodological rigour, offering readers critical insights into the robustness of the existing evidence. It includes a briefing on the regulatory situation of these devices in Europe.
By highlighting both the milestones and the current limitations of BC clinical research, the article establishes a reference point for the biomedical community interested in translating BC materials into clinical practice.
About the journal
Advanced Healthcare Materials is a high-impact peer-reviewed journal published by Wiley. It covers an interdisciplinary research in biomaterials, biointerfaces, nanomedicine and nanotechnology applied to healthcare, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, biofabrication, and devices for healthcare applications. According to the Journal Citation Reports, the journal has a 2024 Impact Factor of 9.6.
Reference
A Comprehensive Review of Clinical Studies on Bacterial Cellulose: From the Earliest Uses to Contemporary Innovations
Thomas Meslier, Justin C. D’Antin, Gemma Julio, Anna Roig
Advanced Healthcare Materials. 2025 Jul 21
DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202502189
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