Cellulose - Chitosan Nanocomposites - Evaluation of Physical, Mechanical and Biological Properties

Abstract

This research describes the preparation of membranes with chitosan (CS) as the polymeric matrix and cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) as reinforcement. The aim was to evaluate their physical, mechanical and biological properties, and to determine their potential for biomedical use. Membranes were prepared via casting CNC suspensions in CS solution, at CNC concentrations of 0.5%, 1.0% and 2.0% (w/w) with pure chitosan as a reference. Analysis of membrane properties was performed using several techniques, such as ATR-FTIR, SEM, swelling test, maximum water absorption, dynamical mechanical analysis and in vivo (Winstar rats) biocompatibility and biodegradability assays for biological evaluation. Experimental results established that CNC reduced swelling rates and increased the maximum water absorption when CNC concentration was higher. Therefore, the presence of CNC in the matrix reduced Young's modulus by approximately 50% in comparison with pure chitosan. All formulations demonstrated biocompatibility and biodegradability values ranged between 4% and 21% in the 30 days after implantation. Based on these results, these membranes may be of use for biomedical applications.

High-Strength Antibacterial Chitosan–Cellulose Nanocrystal Composite Tissue Paper

“…The chitosan-only-coated slide showed slight hydrophobic character with a contact angle of ∼93° with a baseline of 1.61 mm. The contact angle on a CNC-coated glass slide was reduced drastically to 23° with a baseline of 2.88 mm, which is in line with past reports . This was consistent with its more hydrophilic character and nanoscale structural texture, providing enormous surface area.…”

“…The contact angle on a CNC-coated glass slide was reduced drastically to 23°with a baseline of 2.88 mm, which is in line with past reports. 41 This was consistent with its more hydrophilic character and nanoscale structural texture, providing enormous surface area. More interestingly, the hydrophobic character of chitosan was superseded by the hydrophilic character of the CNC in the ChCNC complex.…”

Stability of Nanocomposite Edible Films Based on Polysaccharides and Vitamin C from Agroindustrial Residue

“…For the present material, the improvement in the elongation was high, what can be attributed to the presence of encapsulated vitamin C. In this case, the nanoencapsulated vitamin C, contributed for decreasing the inter-chain galactomannan interaction, the NP structure with good distribution in the polysaccharide matrix ( Figure 7b). A good dispersion in the nanocomposites is related to the affinity between the nanoreinforcement and the matrix having similar chemical structure and hydrophilic nature 43,44 . In a similar way, NC ex also presented difference in surface morphology in comparison with the parent GML film (Figure 7c).…”

Fabrication of a novel biopolymer‐based nanocomposite (nanoTiO2‐chitosan‐plum kernel shell) and adsorption of cationic dyes

“…The peaks at 1068 and 1026 cm −1 indicated the presence of C O bonds. 31 The peak of C O vibration indicated hemicelluloses in the biosorbent content. Oxygen in TiO 2 was observed at 1090-1200 cm −1 and the band at 500 cm −1 was due to Ti O vibrations.…”