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.
Highlights
Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Tampere University, P.O
This review focuses on the recent findings on the optomechanical properties of methylcellulose (MC), a commonly used cellulose derivative, and its composites with cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs)
At certain conditions, CNCs may self-aggregate, which results in the loss of available surface groups and surface area, and in the potential formation of structural defects, weak points, and local inhomogeneities, which potentially compromise the mechanical benefits of the nanocomposites [87]
Summary
MC is the simplest chemical derivative of cellulose, where the available hydroxyl (-OH) groups on the cellulose polymer backbone are partially substituted with methoxyl (-OCH3 ) groups (Figure 1a) [25]. The CNCs self-assemble into left-handedly twisted chiral nematic (i.e., cholesteric) liquid crystalline structures above a critical concentration chiral nematic (i.e., cholesteric) liquid crystalline structures above a critical concentration (c*), which may serve as a scaffold for hierarchical structural materials, to increase the mechanical order and strength in composites, and to adjust the optical properties of a material, among other functions [44,45,46,47]. Versatile and extraordinary materials from freely flowing liquids to stiff and solid nanocomposites can be prepared from relatively simple cellulose-derived components This emphasizes the potential of cellulosic materials in general. The special characteristics of MC and CNCs are presented in more detail; followed by the discussion of the corresponding nanocomposite hydrogels; the manufacturing of such hydrogels into highly ductile fibers; and, lastly, their transformation into cellulose-derived optical fibers, and the potential of these fibers
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