Crosslinked colloidal cellulose nanocrystals and methods of preparation and use thereof
AssigneeBoard of Trustees of the University of Arkansas
InventorsJin-Woo Kim, Joseph Batta-Mpouma, Joshua Sakon
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Abstract
This invention relates generally to covalently crosslinked colloidal cellulose nanocrystals (xCNC) and methods of preparation and use thereof. The colloidal cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) are covalently crosslinked in aqueous suspension to generate a network showing tunable physicochemical properties. The xCNC structures are tunable in terms of their physicochemical properties and arrangement within the hydrogel network. The covalent crosslinking of solitary sulfonated (—OSO3) CNCs can be accomplished without prior hydroxyl replacement or functionalization.
Claims20
A crosslinked colloidal cellulose nanocrystal (xCNC) comprising a plurality of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), each CNC comprising a plurality of glucose units, of which at least one glucose unit for each CNC is a positively or negatively charged glucose unit that forms a covalent bond with a crosslinker.
A crosslinked colloidal cellulose nanocrystal (xCNC) comprising a plurality of sulfonated cellulose nanocrystals (CNC), each sulfonated CNC comprising a plurality of glucose units, of which at least one is a sulfonated glucose unit that forms an acetal bond with a dialdehyde crosslinker.
A crosslinked colloidal cellulose nanocrystal (xCNC) comprising a plurality of sulfonated cellulose nanocrystals (CNC), each sulfonated CNC comprising a plurality of glucose units, of which at least one is a sulfonated glucose unit that forms an ether bond with an epoxide-based crosslinker.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.