Light Processable Methacrylated Carbon Dot-Hydroxyethyl Cellulose Resins with Potential Applications from Dye Adsorption to Antibacterial Gels and Wet Wipes

Abstract

Cellulose-derived materials could offer more sustainable alternatives for current single-use hygiene articles produced from nondegradable fossil-based polymers. We successfully fabricated light processable methacrylated carbon dot-hydroxyethyl cellulose resins and illustrated potential applications in dye adsorption, antibacterial gels, and wet wipes. Carbon dots were first produced by microwave-assisted hydrothermal carbonization and the oxidation of cellulose. The obtained carbon dots and hydroxyethyl cellulose were in situ methacrylated to composite resins, which could be cured to gels in a mold or processed to 3D structures with digital light processing 3D printing. The cured gels had an adequate gel content of 80–84% and high swelling degree up to 350% in binary mixtures of water and dimethyl sulfoxide. Furthermore, the gels were effective dye-adsorbents, and they retained some of the antibacterial properties of nonmodified hydroxyethyl cellulose as evaluated by the disc diffusion method. While the gels could still be recovered after 60 days of soil burial at room temperature, clear sign of degradation and opening of the cross-linked structure were observed by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. Finally, a potential wet wipe was fabricated by laminating the produced gel between two electrospun cellulose acetate mats.