Effect of solution viscosity on the production of nanoribbon network hydrogels composed of enzymatically synthesized cellulose oligomers under macromolecular crowding conditions

Abstract

Cellulose-based hydrogels have attracted much attention due to their potential for a wide variety of applications. Recently, we demonstrated the production of nanoribbon network hydrogels through a crystallization-driven self-assembly of cellulose oligomers synthesized by enzymatic reactions under macromolecular crowding conditions. However, the detailed mechanism underlying hydrogel production remains unclear. This study investigated the effect of solution viscosity on hydrogel production by using a highly branched polymer, Ficoll. We propose that a certain level of solution viscosity is an essential requirement for hydrogel production.