Cellulose-Based Metallogels—Part 2: Physico-Chemical Properties and Biological Stability

Abstract

Metallogels represent a class of composite materials in which a metal can be a part of the gel network as a coordinated ion, act as a cross-linker, or be incorporated as metal nanoparticles in the gel matrix. Cellulose is a natural polymer that has a set of beneficial ecological, economic, and other properties that make it sustainable: wide availability, renewability of raw materials, low-cost, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. That is why metallogels based on cellulose hydrogels and additionally enriched with new properties delivered by metals offer exciting opportunities for advanced biomaterials. Cellulosic metallogels can be either transparent or opaque, which is determined by the nature of the raw materials for the hydrogel and the metal content in the metallogel. They also exhibit a variety of colors depending on the type of metal or its compounds. Due to the introduction of metals, the mechanical strength, thermal stability, and swelling ability of cellulosic materials are improved; however, in certain conditions, metal nanoparticles can deteriorate these characteristics. The embedding of metal into the hydrogel generally does not alter the supramolecular structure of the cellulose matrix, but the crystallinity index changes after decoration with metal particles. Metallogels containing silver (0), gold (0), and Zn(II) reveal antimicrobial and antiviral properties; in some cases, promotion of cell activity and proliferation are reported. The pore system of cellulose-based metallogels allows for a prolonged biocidal effect. Thus, the incorporation of metals into cellulose-based gels introduces unique properties and functionalities of this material.

A Siderophore Mimicking Gelation Component for Capturing and Self-Separation of Fe(III) from an Aqueous Solution of Mixture of Metal Ions

“…On the other hand, soft materials with versatility in their physical and chemical characteristics have shown exciting properties and applicability in various fields. − Gels are an influencing category of soft materials, which have significance in several fields and possess the characteristics of solids and liquids as viscoelastic materials. Self-assembly plays a major role in the fabrication of gels as LMWGs can be assembled into organized structures through various noncovalent interactions, forming stable gel networks at optimized concentrations.…”

Investigation of Cellulose-Based Materials Applied in Life Sciences Using Laser Light Scattering Methods

“…The production of pharmaceutical textiles based on cellulose is supposed to functionalize the polysaccharides with plant-derived materials, drugs, and metal nanoparticles [ 12 ]. Additionally, cellulose-based materials as superabsorbent hydrogels contribute to pollution control and water treatment [ 13 , 14 , 15 ], or are used as supercapacitors, batteries, and chemical/biological/physical sensors in the energy and sensing industries [ 16 , 17 ].…”