Methylcellulose–Cellulose Nanocrystal Composites for Optomechanically Tunable Hydrogels and Fibers

Abstract

Chemical modification of cellulose offers routes for structurally and functionally diverse biopolymer derivatives for numerous industrial applications. Among cellulose derivatives, cellulose ethers have found extensive use, such as emulsifiers, in food industries and biotechnology. Methylcellulose, one of the simplest cellulose derivatives, has been utilized for biomedical, construction materials and cell culture applications. Its improved water solubility, thermoresponsive gelation, and the ability to act as a matrix for various dopants also offer routes for cellulose-based functional materials. There has been a renewed interest in understanding the structural, mechanical, and optical properties of methylcellulose and its composites. This review focuses on the recent development in optically and mechanically tunable hydrogels derived from methylcellulose and methylcellulose–cellulose nanocrystal composites. We further discuss the application of the gels for preparing highly ductile and strong fibers. Finally, the emerging application of methylcellulose-based fibers as optical fibers and their application potentials are discussed.

Influence of Wet Film Thickness on the Functional Applications of Biopolymers in Paper Conservation

“…Application of all three coatings resulted in an increased thickness of the RP (Figure 2b). Although the MC film could not be seen on micrographs (Figure 1), the increase in grammage and thickness indicates that a film may have formed but remained invisible due to its high transparency [36].…”

Precision nanoengineering for functional self-assemblies across length scales

“…144,145 CNCs also provide mechanical reinforcement for optomechanically tunable functional gels. 146 The rod-like structures with negatively charged sulfate half-ester groups offer a route for the in situ synthesis of NCs. Hynninen et al demonstrated that glutathione-capped gold NCs can be prepared by interacting the metal precursor (HAuCl 4 ·3H 2 O) with CNCs.…”

Aggressive strategies for regenerating intervertebral discs: stimulus-responsive composite hydrogels from single to multiscale delivery systems

“…26 MC and HPMC undergo temperature-responsive phase transitions through methoxy intermolecular hydrophobic interactions, and due to different numbers of methoxy substitutions, MC gels at 40-50 1C, leading to increased mechanical and scattering properties. 27 In contrast, HPMC cures at 75-90 1C. 28 In addition, the phase change temperature can be adjusted by physical or chemical modification of properties, such as NaCl, which reduces the LCST of MC to 32-34 1C.…”

“…When the number of methoxy substitutions in HPMC is reduced, the LCST can be lowered to 40 1C. 27 At this point, the LCST is close to the physiological temperature of the human body, which is conducive to in vivo studies. Although ethyl cellulose (EC) aqueous solution is thermosensitive, the viscosity decreases with increasing temperature, which is not conducive to the preparation of IVD in situ formed scaffolds.…”