Material development using the inherent features of nano-cellulose and nano-chitin: Necessity of simple processes and cross-disciplinary collaboration

Abstract

For nano-cellulose materials, which have attracted attention in both academia and industry in recent years, to be used as a truly valuable material class, the author believes that their processing procedures must be both rational and simple. In addition, it is important to focus on areas where the outcomes cannot be achieved without these particular nanomaterials. These points also apply to nanomaterials obtained from the animal structural polysaccharide chitin. On this basis, the author’s group has recently achieved “creation of micro-patterning cell culture substrate by inkjet printing of chitinous nanocrystals” and “utilization of cellulose nanofibers as a module for microfluidic paper-based analytical device (μPAD)”. The direction of these projects also reflects some of the activities of the applied life science department that the author worked for until recently. Cellulosic materials, including traditional forms for industrial use, often exist as a powder state at some point in the production process. The author hopes that research on nano-cellulose and nano-chitin will be enhanced through collaboration with powder technology researchers.