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Additive-free 3D-printed nanostructured carboxymethyl cellulose aerogels.
Sujie Yu1, Romain Castellani1, Anselmo Pereira1
1Mines Paris, PSL University, Center for Materials Forming (CEMEF), UMR CNRS 7635, CS 10207, Rue Claude Daunesse, 06904 Sophia Antipolis, France.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules
|January 26, 2025
Summary
Researchers successfully 3D printed carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) solutions using direct ink writing (DIW) by optimizing rheological properties. This method creates stable, lightweight aerogels with high surface area for biomedical uses.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Engineering
- Materials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
Background:
- 3D printing of polysaccharide solutions offers a promising route for creating complex biomedical constructs.
- A key challenge is maintaining shape fidelity during printing, often requiring additives or crosslinking.
- Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) is a versatile polysaccharide with potential in biomedical applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the direct ink writing (DIW) of neat carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) solutions without additives.
- To explore the influence of CMC molecular weight, degree of substitution, and concentration on rheological properties for shape retention.
- To fabricate 3D printed aerogels with enhanced properties for biomedical applications.
Main Methods:
- Direct ink writing (DIW) was employed to 3D print neat CMC solutions.
- Rheological properties (viscoelasticity) were analyzed by varying CMC molecular weight, degree of substitution, and polymer concentration.
- Printing parameters were optimized using extrusion velocity, pressure, and calibration curves.
- Supercritical CO2 drying was used to convert printed structures into aerogels.
Main Results:
- Successful DIW of neat CMC solutions was achieved by tuning rheological properties, eliminating the need for additives or crosslinking.
- Optimized printing parameters enabled the fabrication of 3D printed structures with high shape stability.
- Resulting aerogels exhibited low density (0.1 g/cm3) and high specific surface area (up to 140 m2/g), outperforming bulk counterparts.
- The study determined the relationship between CMC characteristics and solution viscoelasticity for printability.
Conclusions:
- Direct ink writing (DIW) of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) solutions is feasible without crosslinkers or additives by controlling rheological properties.
- 3D printed CMC aerogels demonstrate superior properties (lower density, higher surface area) compared to conventionally produced aerogels.
- These customized, high-surface-area aerogels show significant potential for advanced biomedical applications like tissue engineering and drug delivery.
