Cellulose fibrils, unique plant-derived semicrystalline nanomaterials with exceptional mechanical properties, have significant potential for rheology modification of complex fluids due to their ability to form a physically associated semiflexible fibrillary network. Here, we report new associative cellulose nanocrystals (ACNCs) with stress-responsive rheological behaviors in an aqueous solution. The surface-mediated living radical polymerization was employed to graft poly(stearyl methacrylate-co-2-methacryloxyethyl phosphorylcholine) brushes onto the nanofibrils, and then 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl radical (TEMPO)-mediated oxidation was conducted to produce nanoscale ACNCs in the aqueous solution. The ACNCs displayed interfibril association driven by the hydrophobic interaction that resulted in the formation of a nanofibrillar crystalline gel phase. We observed that the viscosity of the ACNC fluid showed reversible shear thinning and temperature-induced thickening in response to applied shear stress and thermal shock. Moreover, thanks to generation of a mechanically robust nanofibrillar crystalline gel network, the ACNC suspension showed extraordinary stability to changes in salinity and pH. These results highlighted that the interfibril hydrophobic association of ACNCs was vital and played an essential role in regulation of stimuli-responsive sol-gel transitions.

Novel associative nanoparticles (ANPs) are synthesized by grafting poly(2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine-co-stearyl methacrylate) polymer brushes on silica nanoparticles by using surface-mediated living radical polymerization.

This study introduces a new type of associative nanoparticle (ANP) that provides controlled chain-to-chain attraction with an associative polymer rheology modifier (APRM) to produce highly stable Pickering emulsions. The ANPs were synthesized by grafting hydrophobically modified hygroscopic zwitterionic poly(2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine-co-stearyl methacrylate) brushes onto 20 nm sized silica NPs via surface-mediated living radical polymerization. The ANP-stabilized Pickering emulsions show significant viscosity enhancement in the presence of the APRM. This indicates that the ANPs act as particulate concentration agents at the interface owing to their hydrophobic association with the APRM in the aqueous phase, which leads to the generation of an ANP-mediated complex colloidal film. Consequently, the described ANP-reinforced Pickering emulsion system exhibits improved resistance to pH and salinity changes. This coacervation approach is advantageous because the complex colloidal layer at the interface provides the emulsion drops with a mechanically robust barrier, thus guaranteeing the improved Pickering emulsion stability against harsh environmental factors.

Temperature‐responsive hydrogels were fabricated by the photo‐polymerization of bis‐acryloyl poloxamer tri‐block copolymers, and their temperature‐responsive behavior and physiological effect on skin were investigated. For this, poloxamer macromers were prepared by end‐capping both terminal hydroxyl groups of poloxamer tri‐block copolymers with acrylates. They were then photo‐polymerized to generate polymeric hydrogels with structural integrity that allowed excellent stability against dilution in an aqueous environment. The resulting hydrogels exhibited dramatic reversible swelling behavior upon changes in temperature. A demonstration experiment, in which the hydrogels were applied topically to the skin, showed that they shrank rapidly as a result of the increase in temperature, owing to the contact with the skin surface, highlighting their effectiveness for instantaneously moisturizing the skin.