Thiolated hemicellulose as a versatile platform for one-pot click-type hydrogel synthesis

Area of Science:

• Biomass valorization and polysaccharide modification.
• Green chemistry and sustainable polymer synthesis.

Background:

• Hemicelluloses, like galactoglucomannan, are abundant biomass components with underutilized potential.
• Functionalizing polysaccharides is key to expanding their applications in materials science.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an efficient one-pot method for thiolation of O-acetyl-galactoglucomannan (AcGGM).
• To merge hemicellulose chemistry with "click" chemistry for novel material development.
• To demonstrate the versatility of thiolated AcGGM through postmodification and hydrogel formation.

Main Methods:

• One-pot synthesis involving AcGGM-mediated nucleophilic ring-opening of γ-thiobutyrolactone.
• Activation of polysaccharide pendant hydroxyl groups.
• Characterization using (1)H and (13)C NMR spectroscopy and Ellman's reagent assay.
• Postmodification reactions and hydrogel formation via thiol-ene and thiol-Michael addition "click" reactions.

Main Results:

• Successful thiolation of AcGGM was achieved through a straightforward one-pot synthesis.
• NMR and Ellman's assay confirmed the incorporation of thiol functionalities.
• Thiolated AcGGM demonstrated versatility in "click" reactions, including hydrogel formation.

Conclusions:

• The developed one-pot thiolation method provides a facile route to functionalized hemicelluloses.
• This approach expands the utility of biomass-derived polysaccharides through "click" chemistry.
• Thiolated AcGGM holds promise for advanced applications in biomaterials and polymer science.