Cellulose-Derived Spherical Activated Carbon

Cellulose-derived spherical activated carbon is a sustainable carbon material made from renewable cellulose sources. It forms uniform spheres with high surface area and excellent porosity after activation. Because of its spherical shape, this carbon flows smoothly, packs efficiently, and resists dust formation. These traits make it ideal for pharmaceutical and biomedical uses. In drug formulation, amorphized amlodipine besylate and hydrochlorothiazide offer exciting potential. Their amorphous states increase solubility, speed up dissolution, and enhance bioavailability. This improvement allows more consistent dosing and better combination therapies. Furthermore, a high-shear granulator helps mix and layer ingredients under controlled energy and moisture. It ensures uniform distribution of amorphous drugs and consistent granule quality, which improves final product performance.

Summary of the Publication

The publication by K. Shin et al [1] introduces an eco-friendly method to create cellulose-derived spherical activated carbon from microcrystalline cellulose. The researchers first carbonized cellulose spheres and then activated them with steam. This process produced strong, uniform carbon spheres with hierarchical pores and high adsorption capacity. The spherical design improved handling and flow compared to traditional irregular carbon particles. Moreover, the material demonstrated high performance in removing uremic toxins in simulated biomedical tests. It showed quick adsorption, strong selectivity, and good stability under different pH and ionic strengths.

Because the raw cellulose originates from renewable sources, this process aligns with circular-economy goals. It also reduces production costs while improving quality and uniformity. The study compared these spherical carbons with conventional activated carbons and found similar or superior adsorption properties. However, the new materials also offered better mechanical strength and shape stability. In addition, the pore size and surface characteristics could be tuned by adjusting activation conditions or cellulose template sizes. This tunability is vital for targeting specific biomedical and environmental applications. Therefore, the study links sustainable material design with real-world medical use.

Use of CELLETS® in the Study

The authors used CELLETS® microcrystalline cellulose spheres as templates to shape the final spherical activated carbon. These CELLETS® provided precise size control and reliable structure during carbonization. As a result, the produced carbon spheres maintained uniform shape, size, and mechanical stability. The templating method allowed predictable performance and made the process suitable for scaling up. In practical terms, this ensured consistent flow, packing, and adsorption performance—essential features in pharmaceutical and medical applications.

Conclusion and Outlook

Cellulose-derived spherical activated carbon offers a major step toward green, high-performance adsorbents. It combines renewable sourcing, excellent flow behavior, and strong adsorption capacity. The integration of CELLETS® templates made production reproducible and efficient. Future work should focus on in-vivo safety, selective adsorption of specific toxins, and process optimization under GMP standards. Furthermore, pairing this carbon material with amorphous APIs like amlodipine besylate and hydrochlorothiazide could lead to multifunctional systems for improved drug delivery and detoxification. As industries move toward sustainability and advanced pharmaceutical technologies, cellulose-derived spherical activated carbon will likely play a central role in next-generation biomedical materials.

References

[1] K. Shin et al., Materials & Design 259 (2025) 114892. doi: 10.1016/j.matdes.2025.114892.