Mechanical Properties of Composite Hydrogels of Alginate and Cellulose Nanofibrils

Alginate and cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) are attractive materials for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. CNF gels are generally weaker and more brittle than alginate gels, while alginate gels are elastic and have high rupture strength. Alginate properties depend on their guluronan and man...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Polymers 2017-08, Vol.9 (8), p.378
Main Authors: Aarstad, Olav, Heggset, Ellinor Bævre, Pedersen, Ina Sander, Bjørnøy, Sindre Hove, Syverud, Kristin, Strand, Berit Løkensgard
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Alginate
Alginates
Biomechanics
Biopolymers
Cellulose
Cellulose nanofibrils
Charge density
Composite materials
Compressibility
Creep rupture strength
Deformation
Elastic moduli
Elastic properties
Fibrillation
Gels
Hydrogels
Mechanical properties
Modulus of elasticity
Molecular weight
Nano-cellulose
Nanofibers
Physiological saline
Properties of composites
Regenerative medicine
Scaffolds
Scaffolds (biology)
Sequence pattern
Small deformations
Syneresis
TEMPO
Tissue
Tissue engineering
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Summary:Alginate and cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) are attractive materials for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. CNF gels are generally weaker and more brittle than alginate gels, while alginate gels are elastic and have high rupture strength. Alginate properties depend on their guluronan and mannuronan content and their sequence pattern and molecular weight. Likewise, CNF exists in various qualities with properties depending on, e.g., morphology and charge density. In this study combinations of three types of alginate with different composition and two types of CNF with different charge and degree of fibrillation have been studied. Assessments of the composite gels revealed that attractive properties like high rupture strength, high compressibility, high gel rigidity at small deformations (Young's modulus), and low syneresis was obtained compared to the pure gels. The effects varied with relative amounts of CNF and alginate, alginate type, and CNF quality. The largest effects were obtained by combining oxidized CNF with the alginates. Hence, by combining the two biopolymers in composite gels, it is possible to tune the rupture strength, Young's modulus, syneresis, as well as stability in physiological saline solution, which are all important properties for the use as scaffolds in tissue engineering.
ISSN:2073-4360
2073-4360
DOI:10.3390/polym9080378