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Nanosponge Tunability in Size and Crosslinking Density
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Electrostatically crosslinked cellulose nanocrystal and polyelectrolyte complex sponges with pH responsiveness.

Mor Boas1, Patrick Martin1, Gleb Vasilyev1

  • 1NanoEngineering Group, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 32000, Israel.

Carbohydrate Polymers
|May 28, 2021
PubMed
Summary

Researchers developed a pH-responsive cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) sponge crosslinked with polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs). This adaptable material exhibits tunable mechanical properties and selective dye adsorption based on pH levels.

Keywords:
AerogelCellulose nanocrystalFreeze-dryingPolyelectrolyte complexSponge

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Area of Science:

  • Materials Science
  • Nanotechnology
  • Polymer Chemistry

Background:

  • Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) offer a sustainable platform for advanced materials.
  • Developing stimuli-responsive hydrogels is crucial for applications in sensing and separation.
  • Polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs) enable tunable material properties through electrostatic interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To engineer a pH-responsive sponge using an anionic CNC skeleton.
  • To investigate the electrostatic crosslinking of CNCs with a pH-responsive PEC.
  • To characterize the mechanical, structural, and adsorption properties of the developed CNC-PEC sponges.

Main Methods:

  • Fabrication of CNC-based sponges via electrostatic crosslinking with PECs.
  • Characterization of sponge network structure using microscopy and density measurements.
  • Assessment of mechanical properties (compression modulus) under varying pH conditions.
  • Evaluation of dye adsorption capabilities for anionic and cationic dyes at different pH values.

Main Results:

  • A global percolated network of CNC rods crosslinked by PEC clusters was formed.
  • Sponge bulk density increased from 35 to 93 mg/cm³ and compression modulus from 7 to 62 kPa with increasing PEC concentration.
  • Significant pH-dependent mechanical response was observed, with modulus dropping to 0.9 kPa at pH 2.0 and rising to 42 kPa at pH 5.5 (at 1 wt% PEC).
  • Adsorption selectivity shifted with pH: anionic dyes were better adsorbed at low pH, and cationic dyes at high pH.

Conclusions:

  • The developed CNC-PEC sponge exhibits tunable mechanical properties and pH responsiveness.
  • The material demonstrates potential for selective adsorption of charged species based on environmental pH.
  • This work presents a promising approach for creating advanced, responsive biomaterials from sustainable resources.