This invention describes nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) for use as a drug delivery excipient. NCC binds significant quantities of water soluble, ionizable drugs, e.g., tetratcycline and doxorubicin, which are released rapidly over a one day period. A surfactant such as cetyl trimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) can bind to the surface of NCC and increase the zeta potential in a concentration-dependent manner from &minus55 to 0 mV. NCC with CTAB modified surfaces can bind significant quantities of the hydrophobic drugs such as anticancer drugs docetaxel, paclitaxel and etoposide. These drugs were released in a controlled manner over a 2-day period. The NCC-CTAB nanocomplexes were found to bind to KU-7 cells and evidence of cellular uptake was observed.
