Utilization of biopolymers from palm oil waste in dental innovation

Pemanfaatan biopolimer dari limbah kelapa sawit dalam inovasi kedokteran gigi

Abstract

Oil palm biomass (OPB) has emerged as a highly promising lignocellulosic resource. Utilizing OPB waste to produce advanced biomaterials, such as nano-nocellulose and lignin, offers opportunities for transformative innovation in sustainable dental materials. This literature review was compiled based on inclu-sion criteria that focused on primary and secondary studies published in leading scientific journals (not theses or non-peer-reviewed articles) that addressed the use of oil palm waste-derived biopolymers OPB, particularly nanocellulose and lignin, in biomedical and dental applications. These materials exhibit good biocompatibility, are biodegradable, and actively support tissue regeneration (as evidenced by increased ALP activity). The use of palm oil enables the deve-lopment of smart materials that combine structural support (from cellulose/lignin) with therapeutic functions (antimicrobial and antioxidant properties from palm oil derivatives) to prevent biofilm infection and oxidative damage.