Adhesive-free Ultrathin Film Cellulose Nanosheet

In recent years, there has been growing interest in the medical field to develop the next ultrathin film nanosheet for both personal care as well as transdermal drug delivery. One of the more commonly used polymer for this is polylactic acid which suffers from a host of problems which includes insufficient mechanical strength, poor adhesion (requires additional adhesives), difficulty in supporting hydrophilic medical ingredients and overall discomfort from long-term application.

This technology offer is an adhesive-free ultrathin film nanosheet that is made from cellulose. This cellulose nanosheet has excellent properties that are not seen in polymeric material such as flexibility, moisture control and is amphiphilic in nature which allows for a robust selection medical ingredient loadings. Furthermore, this cellulose film is ultrathin (thickness of 1 µm or less), incredibly easy to fabricate and is porous which allows for high loading and dispersion of materials, and thus increases the surface area. Lastly, the cellulose nanosheet has high adhesion strength without the need for adhesive and is hardly visible or feelable when pasted on the skin.

This technology offer is an ultrathin film cellulose nanosheet. The technical features and specifications are listed as follows:

• Robust and flexible (via a simple patented synthesis process)
• Ultrathin (thickness of 1 µm or less)
• Simple and strong physical adsorption without adhesive (up to 24 hours)
• Low visibility and feelability
• Natural material (non-toxic)
• Excellent moisture control
• Nanopore formation allows for high loading and dispersion of ingredients or materials
• Amphiphilic in nature (supports a variety of medical ingredients)
• Able to print on the nanosheet

The use of this technology is for industries or partners interested in medical, personal care, wearable electronics and food packaging. The potential application includes but are not limited:

• Skin sheet for medical or personal care use (e.g. moisturizing sheet, transdermal drug delivery)
• Wearable electronics (e.g. wearable sensors, printed battery)
• Food packaging

Increasing interest in beauty and medical care is driving demand for beauty and medical products that offer unprecedented benefits. By using this technology, it is possible to provide a sheet capable of caring and making up the skin for a long time without being visually recognized. This technology offer is also suitable for various wearable sensors. The ability to print on the cellulose nanosheet allows for wearable sensors and electrodes to be attached onto the skin without burdening it.

• Able to be used for sensitive skin (moisturizes while protecting the skin)
• Can stably store medicine or ingredients that deteriorates easily (e.g. Vitamin C)
• Makeup or decorative purpose with burden on the skin
• Long term attachment of sensor or electrodes on skin
• Nanopores prevent coagulation of loaded ingredients

The technology owner is keen to out-license this patented technology to partners in the medical, personal care, wearable electronics and food packaging industries.