Nanocellulose foams containing at least one active ingredient and methods of preparing such nanocellulose foams containing one or more active ingredients are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method for preparing nanocellulose foam containing active ingredients may include forming a liquid mixture of nanocellulose, wherein the nanocellulose is at least one of dispersed, suspended or gelled in the liquid mixture drying the liquid mixture of nanocellulose to form a nanocellulose foam and mixing at least one active ingredient into at least one of the liquid mixture of nanocellulose or the nanocellulose foam. In some embodiments, a nanocellulose structure may include a nanocellulose foam comprising at least one of a carboxylate group, a hydroxyl group, or a sulfate group bonded to an active ingredient. In some embodiments, the nanocellulose structures are enhanced or crosslinked with metal cations.
