Tunicate Shell as for Animal Cellulose Candidate for Therapeutic Ultrasonic Gel Formulation

Traditionally, sea squirts have been a popular seafood in Asia, but their tough cellulose-based shells have made it difficult to repurpose them into valuable materials. In South Korea, approximately 7,000 tons of sea squirt waste are produced annually, leading to disposal costs of around one million dollars. This highlights the need to find better uses for this waste.<br/>Cellulose, an abundant natural polysaccharide, can be converted into various forms such as gels, films, and fibers. Its excellent water absorption capacity and strong mechanical properties have expanded its applications, particularly in the medical field, where it is used for fillers, wound dressings, and ultrasonic gels, which are typically made from synthetic polymers.<br/>This research investigated three different cellulose extraction methods and explored various gel formulations. The conductivity and viscosity of the cellulose-based ultrasound gel were compared with those of commercial gels. The formulated gel demonstrated suitable conductive and viscous properties as a therapeutic delivery gel material, comparable to commercially available gels.