Novel nanosized biomass-based pH-responsive
cellulose nanofibers
(CNF-PEI) with excellent biocompatibility were tailored by grafting
polyethylenimine (PEI) onto carboxylated cellulose nanofibers (CNF-COOH);
the active site (−COOH, 0.96 mmol/g) was anchored on cellulose
nanofibers (CNFs) to introduce PEI with a high density (10.57 mmol/g)
of amino groups. The as-prepared CNF-PEI not only maintained the good
properties of CNFs but also possessed excellent biocompatibility and
pH-responsive properties, offering interesting possibilities for pH-induced
sustained drug release and medical dressing. The CNF-PEI showed rapid
wettability conversion from hydrophilic, underwater superoleophobic
(WCA = 20.7°, OCA = 159.3°) to hydrophobic, superoleophilic
(WCA = 129.6°, OCA = 29.7°) in response to pH change from
acidic conditions to alkaline conditions. The antibacterial activity
of CNF-PEI toward Escherichia coli and Listeria
monocytogenes was 100% and 94.6% under acidic conditions,
respectively. Furthermore, the pH-responsive mechanism of CNF-PEI
was revealed by XPS, 13C NMR, 1H NMR, and AFM
analyses.
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