Orthogonality between cellulose nanocrystals and a low-molecular weight gelator.

3D-printable bio-sourced nanocomposite hydrogels based on two polysaccharide components: hydroxypropyl guar macromolecules and cellulose nanocrystals.

Similar to cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), rod-shaped chitin nanocrystals (ChNCs) form liquid-crystalline cholesteric (chiral nematic) suspensions in water. In this paper, we report how the biological source from which the ChNCs were obtained influences the properties of their liquid-crystalline suspensions, specifically their phase separation diagram and helical pitch. We isolated ChNCs under the same acid hydrolysis conditions from chitin of various biological sources, i.e., snow crab, shrimp, Antarctic krill, squid, black soldier fly pupae, and oyster mushroom, and investigated their geometrical dimensions and surface charges as well as their liquid-crystalline suspension. Our key result is that the biological source has indeed a major impact on the length and the aspect ratio of the ChNCs, which in turn significantly influences the stability range and the helical pitch of their chiral-nematic aqueous suspensions. Remarkably, a much smaller helical pitch was observed for ChNCs derived from oyster mushroom. Overall, it has become clear that the biological origin of ChNCs indeed matters for their properties and their potential applications.

Isolation and characterization of cellulose nanocrystals and synthesis of bioplastic cellulose acetate from the invasive weed Senna didymobotrya using acid hydrolysis and acylation methods.

Casein-caffeic acid-cellulose nanocrystals composite edible films for microwave food packaging application.

Functional additives to strengthen composite packaging film containing cellulose nanocrystals: Property enhancement and applications in food preservation.

Cellulose based hierarchical structural colored wood composite material for daytime radiative cooling.

Exploring chiral photonic cellulose nanocrystal composites: From self-assembly to advanced applications.

Bio-derived carbon dot-loaded PVA/CNC films with antioxidant, UV-blocking, and antimicrobial properties for active food packaging.

3-Carboxyphenylboronic acid functionalized polydopamine-coated cellulose nanocrystals as a pH-responsive nanocarrier for targeted curcumin delivery.

Filamentous bacteriophages fd are viral particles, highly monodisperse in size, that have been widely used as a model colloidal system for studying the self-assembly of rod-shaped particles as well as a versatile template in nanoscience. In aqueous suspensions, fd viruses exhibit lyotropic behavior, forming liquid crystalline phases as their concentration increases. Here, we report a solvent-free system displaying thermotropic phase behavior, achieved through covalent coupling of low molecular weight PEG-based polymer surfactant onto the fd virus surface. Upon lyophilization of aqueous suspensions of these polymer-grafted bacteriophages and subsequent thermal annealing, a solvent-free material is obtained, exhibiting both viscoelasticity and, notably, thermotropic liquid crystalline properties. A combination of small-angle X-ray scattering and optical microscopy experiments reveals the formation of an ordered hexagonal mesophase below 30 °C, which undergoes a melting transition into an isotropic liquid at higher temperatures. Our results demonstrate an efficient approach for converting lyotropic into thermotropic phase behavior in the columnar liquid crystalline phase of filamentous fd colloids. This approach paves the way for extending such functionalization to other technologically relevant rod-like systems, such as carbon nanotubes and cellulose nanocrystals, enabling the introduction of thermotropic properties in anhydrous colloidal materials.

Smart dual-responsive Pickering emulsions engineered from functionalized cellulose nanocrystals: Enhanced targeted pesticide delivery and UV-shielding performance.

MIL-88A(Fe) fine-tuned nanocellulose polyvinylidene fluoride membrane for enhanced antifouling capacity via coordination.

Enhanced properties of nanocomposite hydrogels incorporating superoxide dismutase-stabilized selenium nanoparticles and rosin-modified cellulose nanocrystals.

Recovery of bioactive compounds and manufacture of bacterial cellulose nanocrystals from citrus processing wastewater: An integrated biorefinery approach.

Sustainable transformation of waste cotton into quaternized carboxy cellulose nanocrystals enables chain-enhanced adsorption for industrial textile wastewater purification.

Anti-freezing, self-healing and human sensors nanocomposite hydrogels based on functionalized cellulose nanocrystals and polydextrose.

This experiment investigates the stability, thermophysical, and tribological characteristics of cellulose nanocrystal (CNC), aluminum oxide (Al2O3), and hybrid CNC-Al2O3 nanolubricants as additives in SAE 40 engine oil for internal combustion engine applications. Stability assessments were conducted through zeta potential analysis at various concentrations (0.01% to 0.05%) and temperatures (30°C to 90°C). The hybrid CNC-Al2O3 nanolubricants demonstrated excellent dispersion stability with zeta potential values exceeding 150 mV at optimal concentrations. Thermophysical property analysis revealed that dynamic viscosity increased significantly, with the hybrid system showing a 56% enhancement at 0.03% concentration and 30°C. The tribological testing revealed a remarkable 78.6% reduction in the coefficient of friction at a 0.01% concentration and an optimal specific wear rate of 0.016 mm³/Nm at a 0.05% concentration. These synergistic improvements in stability, thermophysical, and tribological properties demonstrate the CNC–Al₂O₃ hybrid’s significant potential to enhance efficiency, durability, and heat management in internal combustion engines, offering a novel, high-performance alternative to conventional lubricant additives.

Nanocellulose has emerged as a promising biomaterial for development of scaffolds for tissue engineering. Incorporation of nanocellulose into a polymer scaffold can increase its stiffness, allowing it to better mimic the mechanical properties of native extracellular matrix. Plant-derived nanocellulose is classified as either cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) or cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) depending on particle characteristics and extraction methods. Although both materials have been used in hydrogel composites, the impact of nanocellulose source and morphology on scaffold properties remains unclear. Here, we isolated high aspect ratio CNFs from two macroalgae species and compared them with conventional wood pulp-derived CNFs and CNCs in the preparation of composite gelatin hydrogels. All nanocellulose types increased hydrogel stiffness in a concentration-dependent manner; however, the greatest increase was achieved using brown algae CNF, where the addition of 1.25 wt.% nanocellulose resulted in a 5.2-fold increase in compression modulus relative to neat gelatin. Bioassays showed that nanocellulose improved keratinocyte adhesion and spreading on gelatin scaffolds, with a positive correlation between nanocellulose concentration and surface coverage and inverse with cell circularity. These findings demonstrate the influence of nanocellulose source and morphology on the mechanical and biological properties of composite scaffolds and highlight the potential of novel nanocellulose sources for scaffold development.

The growing accumulation of plastic and electronic waste highlights the urgent need for sustainable and biodegradable polymers. However, developing intrinsically conductive biodegradable polymers remains challenging, particularly for packaging and sensing applications. Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) is intrinsically non-conductive, and enhancing its functionality without compromising structural integrity is a key research goal. In this study, PLA-based filaments were developed using melt extrusion, incorporating cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs), and carbon nanotubes (CNTs), individually and in hybrid combinations with total filler contents between 1 and 5 wt%. The inclusion of CNC enhanced the dispersion of GNP and CNT, promoting the formation of interconnected conductive networks within the PLA matrix, allowing the percolation threshold to be reached at a lower fillers concentration. Hybrid formulations showed a balance melt strength and processability suitable for fused deposition modelling (FDM) 3D printing and prototypes successfully made. This study also provides the first systematic evaluation of temperature-dependent thermal conductivity of PLA-based composites at multiple temperatures (25, 5, and −20 °C), relevant to typical food and medical supply chains conditions.