Low Degree Of Polymerization Research Articles

A New Blending Method for the Preparation of Macroporous Open‐cell Polyvinyl Formaldehyde Foams with High Water‐Absorption Capacity

AbstractA new blending method for the preparation of a series of macroporous open‐cell polyvinyl formaldehyde (PVF) foams is reported here. Mechanism of foam‐formation was detailedly analyzed and it was found that the addition of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) with a low degree of polymerization was important and crucial for the formation of PVF foams. Further, the addition of PVA with a low degree of polymerization is beneficial for the improvement of water solubility. The structures and properties of PVF foams were investigated by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The macroporous open‐cell PVF foams had a pore size ranging from 120.88 to 16.16 μm with an increased degree of acetalization and the water absorption capacity increased with the addition of PVA with a low degree of polymerization. PVF foams generally have higher thermal stability because of their cross‐linked network structure. The highest water absorption capacity of the PVF foam obtained presently can reach up to 960 wt%, which is much higher than most PVF foams reported so far.

Influence of Acetylation and Polymerization Degree of Chitosan As Green Binder Material for LiMn2O4 Positive Electrodes in Lithium Ion Batteries

The increasing market of lithium ion batteries within the climate crisis consequently leads to a need of environmentally friendly battery materials and production. Organic solvents, fluorinated binders and toxic transition metals are common components in state-of-the-art batteries. Aqueously processed ecofriendly electrodes are reported showing high electrical performance combined with high work safety and sustainability. In this study, the biopolymer chitosan is investigated electrochemically and mechanically as green binder for positive electrodes utilizing lithium manganese oxide (LiMn2O4; LMO) for the first time. Therefore, chitosans were tailored to a high and low degree of polymerization (DP) and three comparable degrees of acetylation (DA). The systematical comparison of these binder materials reveals insights into the impact of polymer binder properties on the electrochemical performance of positive electrodes. Low DP chitosan show a higher adhesive strength than high DP chitosans or PVdF, while chitosan-based electrodes with DA<16% deliver higher discharge capacities and Coulombic efficiencies in T-type cells than with DA>16% or even with the state-of-the-art binder polyvinylidene difluoride (PVdF). Crosslinking of chitosans with citric acid (CA) further increases discharge capacities up to 80 mAh g-1 at 10C and shows again a superior electrochemical performance with sustainable battery materials. Figure 1

Synthesis and photoinitiated cationic polymerization of epoxidized phenylpropanoid and α-pinene derivatives

Phenylpropanoides and myrtenol were converted into laurates in a first reaction step followed by epoxidation of the olefinic structure using m-chloroperbenzoic acid to synthesize new epoxy monomers. These are epoxy eugenyl laurate (EEL), epoxy isoeugenyl laurate (EiEL), epoxy cinnamyl laurate (ECL), and epoxy myrtenyl laurate (EML). Cationic photoinitiated polymerization of the new epoxy monomers melting below or slightly above room temperature results in oligomers with a degree of polymerization between 2 and 6. The low degree of polymerization causes a glass transition temperature of the new oligoethers below the polymerization temperature indicating the neglecting influence of vitrification on the photoinitiated polymerization of these epoxy monomers. Significant differences were found regarding the kinetics of the cationic photoinitiated polymerization between the single new epoxy monomers and epoxy anethol (EA) as well as epoxy estragol (EE). The molar polymerization enthalpy determined for epoxy monomers undergoing quantitative conversion differs from the value for ethylene oxide that is known from the literature. This indicates the influence of the substituents bound at the epoxy group on the polymerization kinetics.

Complete conversion of agarose into water soluble agaro-oligosaccharides by microwave assisted hydrothermal hydrolysis

This study aims to produce oligosaccharides by microwave-assisted hydrothermal hydrolysis of agarose, which is a more environmentally friendly and green economical approach than acid or enzymatic hydrolysis. Under the optimized condition of 160 °C and 25 min, total liquefaction of agarose was achieved, the dominant products in the hydrolysate are agaro-oligosaccharides (AOs), with only a small portion of d-galactose and 5- hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF). This approach can produce even and odd number AOs simultaneously, which is due to the random hydrolysis of α-1,3 glycosidic linkage at first and subsequent hydrolysis of the β-1,4 glycosidic linkage at the reducing end. The yield of AOs of a low degree of polymerization (DP) can reach about 57% of the theoretical maximum, while the total yield of AOs is over 90%. In conclusion, microwave-assisted hydrothermal hydrolysis is a way of producing oligosaccharides from agarose with extra-high efficiency and practical significance.

Production of sphere-like bacterial cellulose in cultivation media with different carbon sources: a promising sustained release system of rifampicin

Bacterial cellulose (BC) production can be performed using a static or dynamic culture method. In the static culture method, the BC is obtained presents three-dimensional thinner network structures and excellent mechanical properties. In the dynamic culture method, BC is produced in the form of granules or fibrous threads with a lower degree of polymerization, mechanical strength, and crystallinity than those formed in static fermentation. Compared with BC membranes, sphere-like BC (SBC) cultured under dynamic conditions showed advantages for adsorption due to its larger surface area. The objectives of this work were to obtain SBC, by the bacterial strain Komagataeibacter hansenii ATCC 23769, in dynamic culture, using media containing different carbon sources carbon sources, such as fructose (FRU), glucose and sucrose (MS1), sucrose (Y) and glucose (Z and HS), aiming to produce supports for sustained release of rifampicin (RIF). SBC has been produced under agitation at 130 rpm and 25 °C. SBC obtained were processed to remove bacteria and residues from the culture media and lyophilized. The SBC characterizations were performed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, Field emission gun-scanning electron microscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. The SBC produced were impregnated with antibiotic RIF and tested for the sustained release capacity of this drug by diffusion method and Frans cell kinetics. SBC that the best results for all tests were produced in FRU, Z and MS1 media, respectively. The results demonstrate the potential of the SBC to contribute to the design of new drug delivery systems with biomedical applications.

Inulin addition improved probiotic survival in soy-based fermented beverage.

Currently, the growing demand for non-dairy functional foods leads to the constant development of new products. The objective of the present work was to obtain a soy-based fermented beverage employing the strains Lactiplantibacillus plantarum CIDCA 8327 or Lacticaseibacillus paracasei BGP1 and to analyze the effect of post-fermentation addition of inulin of low or high average polymerization degree on the bacterial resistance. Also, the antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of the fermented soy-based beverages were analyzed. The soy-based matrix was shown to be a suitable substrate for the growth of both lactic acid bacteria, and the fermented beverages obtained presented bioactive properties such us antioxidant activity and bactericidal effect against pathogen microorganisms. The addition of inulin after the fermentation process avoid the hydrolysis and so, preserve its polymerization degree and thus the potential prebiotic effect. The incorporation of inulin to the soy-based fermented beverages increased the bacterial count after 30days of refrigerated storage up to 8.71 ± 0.15 and 8.41 ± 0.10 log CFU/mL for L. paracasei and L. planatrum respectively. The resistance to the gastrointestinal conditions of the strain L. paracasei BGP1 in the fermented beverage was improved up to 70% when inulin of high polymerization degree was added. Meanwhile the strain L. plantarum CIDCA 8327 showed a survival of 97 and 94% in the fermented beverage added with inulin of low or high polymerization degree, respectively. These results contribute to the development of non-dairy products containing inulin and probiotics and the diversification agri-based functional foods.

Hydration Mechanisms of Alkali-Activated Cementitious Materials with Ternary Solid Waste Composition.

Considering the recent eco-friendly and efficient utilization of three kinds of solid waste, including calcium silicate slag (CSS), fly ash (FA), and blast-furnace slag (BFS), alkali-activated cementitious composite materials using these three waste products were prepared with varying content of sodium silicate solution. The hydration mechanisms of the cementitious materials were analyzed by X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive spectroscopy. The results show that the composite is a binary cementitious system composed of C(N)-A-S-H and C-S-H. Si and Al minerals in FA and BFS are depolymerized to form the Q0 structure of SiO4 and AlO4. Meanwhile, β-dicalcium silicate in CSS hydrates to form C-S-H and Ca(OH)2. Part of Ca(OH)2 reacts with the Q0 structure of AlO4 and SiO4 to produce lawsonite and wairakite with a low polymerization degree of the Si-O and Al-O bonds. With the participation of Na+, part of Ca(OH)2 reacts with the Q0 structure of AlO4 and the Q3 structure of SiO4, which comes from the sodium silicate solution. When the sodium silicate content is 9.2%, the macro properties of the composites effectively reach saturation. The compressive strength for composites with 9.2% sodium silicate was 23.7 and 35.9 MPa after curing for 7 and 28 days, respectively.

Enhancement of the performance of the GH75 family chitosanases by fusing a carbohydrate binding module and insights into their substrate binding mechanisms

Chitooligosaccharides (COSs) with relatively higher degrees of polymerization (DP) exhibited better biological properties than COSs with lower DP. Here, we demonstrated a potential strategy to enhance the affinity, activity, and thermostability of the chitosanase Csn75 from Aspergillus fumigatus CJ22-326 through fusion of a carbohydrate binding module (CBM) that can specifically bind to chitosan. Compared with the Csn75, the specific enzyme activity of the Csn75-CBM32 and the Csn75-2CBM32 had increased by 59.18% and 14.29%, respectively. The free energy (ΔG), enthalpy (ΔH), and entropy (-TΔS) of the three enzymes (Csn75, Csn75-CBM32, and Csn75-2CBM32) toward (GlcN)6 was (−7.19, −7.54, and −8.08 kcal/mol), (−5.37, 1.75, and 0.86 kcal/mol), and (1.45, 9.27, and 8.03 kcal/mol), respectively. The substrate binding of the Csn75 and the fusion enzymes (Csn75-CBM32 and Csn75-2CBM32) were mainly driven by the hydrophobic (entropy effect) and favorable intermolecular forces (enthalpy contribution), respectively. Moreover, the DP of COSs in the final hydrolysate of Csn75 was 2–4, but that of Csn75-CBM32 and Csn75-2CBM32 was 3–5. This strategy provides a potential alternative for the bioproduction of desirable COSs to meet the requirement of application in food systems.

Definition of the role of polyvinyl alcohol during formation and in the structure of cathodic synthesized composite electrochromic nickel hydroxide layer: template or surfactant

One of the promising applications of nickel hydroxide is electrochemical electrochromic devices. To significantly improve the characteristics, the role of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) in the synthesis and structure of composite Ni(OH)2-PVA films was investigated by studying the effect of its concentration (30, 40, 50 g/l) and polymerization degree (17-99, 24-99, 30-99 types). Adhesion was investigated visually, and electrochemical and electrochromic properties – by cyclic voltammetry with simultaneous recording of optical characteristics. It was shown that at a concentration of 30 g/l, the film peeled off and had weak electrochemical and electrochromic properties. The presence of two cathodic peaks (E=500–510 mV and E=560 mV) on the cyclic voltammetry showed the presence of nickel hydroxide in the PVA matrix and nickel hydroxide with adsorbed PVA. This indicates the dual role of PVA as a surfactant and as a template. At low concentrations, the role of PVA as a surfactant prevailed. Increasing the concentration led to an increase in the film characteristics by strengthening the role of PVA as a template: at 50 g/l, the film did not peel off and has good electrochemical and electrochromic characteristics. It is shown that at a low degree of polymerization, PVA (17-99 type) mainly played the role of a surfactant but was also a template. The film cracked and had mediocre characteristics. The use of medium polymerization PVA (24-99 type) gave a film with high adhesion, electrochemical and electrochromic characteristics. It is shown that in this case, PVA performed the function of a template, there was only one cathodic peak on the voltammogram at E=500–510 mV. It was found that the use of PVA with a high degree of polymerization (30-99 type) led to a significant deterioration of the characteristics, including complete peeling of the film. This is probably due to the loss of PVA in the film

Green production of low-molecular-weight xylooligosaccharides from oil palm empty fruit bunch via integrated enzymatic polymerization and membrane separation for purification

For xylooligosaccharides (XOS) production from agricultural residues, highly concentrated xylan liquor (116 g/L) was produced by crushing an oil palm empty fruit bunch (EFB) via continuous hydrothermal treatment and subsequent membrane-based concentration on a pilot scale. The yield of xylan extracted from the raw EFB was 53.7%. To produce XOS with a low degree of polymerization, xylanase-catalyzed hydrolysis was performed and the sum of xylobiose and xylotriose to extracted xylan was 81.6% under lab-scale optimal conditions and 69.3% under pilot-scale conditions. In addition, the crude XOS could be purified through a novel approach involving enzyme-mediated radical polymerization and membrane-based separation, while minimizing XOS loss and waste generation. As a result, 50.2% of the total phenolic compounds in the crude XOS material could be polymerized and precipitated through peroxidase-catalyzed reactions, and an additional 22.6% were removed using the membrane. Furthermore, the amount of activated carbon consumed and the XOS recovery rate after phenolic compound removal via the adsorption method using activated carbon were evaluated and compared with the integrated enzyme-membrane purification results. Consequently, this study provides an ecofriendly biomass refinery process for low-molecular-weight XOS production and purification that produces few toxic substances and little waste.

Dispersion and Stabilization of Supported Layered Double Hydroxide-Based Nanocomposites on V-Based Catalysts for Nonoxidative Dehydrogenation of Isobutane to Isobutene

Nonoxidative dehydrogenation of isobutane is one of the sustainable strategies for producing high value added isobutene. As alternatives for the commercial Pt- and Cr-based dehydrogenation catalysts, supported V-based catalysts are worthy of study. In this work, a series of VOx/mMgAlO-R catalysts (m = 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30) were designed and prepared by loading VOx on mMgAlO composite oxide supports derived from mesoporous Al2O3-supported layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanocomposites. The calcined and reduced catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectra, Ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflectance (UV-Vis) spectra, NH3 temperature-programmed desorption (NH3-TPD), Temperature-programmed reduction (H2-TPR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), thermogravimetric analysis (TG) and low temperature N2 adsorption–desorption isotherms. The as-synthesized VOx/20MgAlO-R with appropriate Mg addition exhibits superior activity (43–56% conversion and 77–81% selectivity), excellent stability and coking-resistance for the isobutane dehydrogenation. The structure–performance relationship reveals that the formation of VOx species confined in the reconstructed LDH interlayer and porous MgO facilitates dispersing and stabilizing the VOx species. The low polymerization degree and higher proportion of V4+ ion for VOx species, strong acidity of medium acid sites and low concentration of strong acid sites are responsible for the excellent anti-coking and catalytic performance. The strong VOx–support interaction is beneficial for enhancing the stability of the catalysts.

Coproduction of xylo-oligosaccharides and glucose from sugarcane bagasse in subcritical CO2-assisted seawater system

Abundant seawater resources can replace the shortage of freshwater resources. The co-production of xylo-oligosaccharides and glucose from sugarcane bagasse by subcritical CO2-assisted seawater pretreatment was studied in this paper. We investigated the effects of pretreatment conditions of temperature, CO2 pressure and reaction time on the yield of xylo-oligosaccharides in subcritical CO2-assisted seawater systems. The maximum xylo-oligosaccharide yield of 68.23% was obtained at 165 °C/2 MPa/5 min. After further enzymatic hydrolysis of the solid residue, the highest glucose yield of 94.45% was obtained. In this system, there is a synergistic effect of mixed ions in seawater and CO2 to depolymerize xylan into xylo-oligosaccharides with a lower degree of polymerization. At the same time, the addition of CO2 increased the pore size and porosity of sugarcane bagasse, improved the efficiency of enzymatic hydrolysis and increased the yield of glucose. Therefore, this study provides a more environmentally friendly and sustainable process for the co-production of xylo-oligosaccharides and glucose from sugarcane bagasse, and improves the utilization of seawater resources.Graphical

Chitooligosaccharides from shrimp shell chitosan prepared using H2O2 or ascorbic acid/H2O2 redox pair hydrolysis: characteristics, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities

SummaryChitooligosaccharides (COS) prepared from shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) shell chitosan using H2O2 at different concentrations or ascorbic acid (AsA)/H2O2 redox pair at various concentration ratios using different hydrolysis times and temperatures were characterised. COS produced by 0.05/0.1 (M/M) of AsA/H2O2 redox pair (COS‐RP) showed higher DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities, FRAP, metal chelating activity and ORAC (P &lt; 0.05). Based on fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra, COS‐HP and COS‐RP had slight difference between functional groups. COS‐RP had low degree of polymerisation (2–8) and average molecular weight (0.7 kDa). Intermolecular hydrogen bonds were broken, and crystallinity of chitosan was decreased after hydrolysis. COS‐RP showed higher zone of inhibition toward tested bacteria than COS‐HP (P &lt; 0.05). 1H‐NMR and 13C‐NMR spectra also reconfirmed that no drastic alteration in chemical structure of both COS samples took place. Overall, COS prepared using AsA/H2O2 redox pair reaction was recommended due to its higher antioxidant and antimicrobial activities than that using H2O2 alone.

Production of Large-Ring Cyclodextrins by Amylomaltases.

Amylomaltase is a well-known glucan transferase that can produce large ring cyclodextrins (LR-CDs) or so-called cycloamyloses via cyclization reaction. Amylomaltases have been found in several microorganisms and their optimum temperatures are generally around 60–70 °C for thermostable amylomaltases and 30–45 °C for the enzymes from mesophilic bacteria and plants. The optimum pHs for mesophilic amylomaltases are around pH 6.0–7.0, while the thermostable amylomaltases are generally active at more acidic conditions. Size of LR-CDs depends on the source of amylomaltases and the reaction conditions including pH, temperature, incubation time, and substrate. For example, in the case of amylomaltase from Corynebacterium glutamicum, LR-CD productions at alkaline pH or at a long incubation time favored products with a low degree of polymerization. In this review, we explore the synthesis of LR-CDs by amylomaltases, structural information of amylomaltases, as well as current applications of LR-CDs and amylomaltases.

Coproduction xylo-oligosaccharides with low degree of polymerization and glucose from sugarcane bagasse by non-isothermal subcritical carbon dioxide assisted seawater autohydrolysis

High pretreatment temperature is necessary to obtain xylo-oligosaccharides (XOS) with low degree of polymerization (DP). However, traditional isothermal pretreatment for XOS production may increase the generation of xylose and furfural with the reaction time extending (10–100 min). In this study, non-isothermal subcritical CO2-assisted seawater autohydrolysis (NSCSA) firstly used seawater and CO2 for the coproduction of XOS with low DP and glucose. 51.44% XOS was obtained at 205 °C/5 MPa, and low-DP (2–4) XOS accounted for 79.13% of the total XOS. Furthermore, the specific surface area and total pore volume of the pretreated sugarcane bagasse (SCB) were 1.96 m2/g and 0.011 cm3/g, respectively, increased by 148% and 83% than that of nature SCB. Compared with subcritical CO2 pretreatment, NSCSA is an efficient method for the coproduction of XOS with low DP and glucose through inorganic salts in seawater and H2CO3 formed from CO2.

Understanding the structure and composition of recalcitrant oligosaccharides in hydrolysate using high-throughput biotin-based glycome profiling and mass spectrometry

Novel Immunological and Mass Spectrometry Methods for Comprehensive Analysis of Recalcitrant Oligosaccharides in AFEX Pretreated Corn Stover. Lignocellulosic biomass is a sustainable alternative to fossil fuel and is extensively used for developing bio-based technologies to produce products such as food, feed, fuel, and chemicals. The key to these technologies is to develop cost competitive processes to convert complex carbohydrates present in plant cell wall to simple sugars such as glucose, xylose, and arabinose. Since lignocellulosic biomass is highly recalcitrant, it must undergo a combination of thermochemical treatment such as Ammonia Fiber Expansion (AFEX), dilute acid (DA), Ionic Liquid (IL) and biological treatment such as enzyme hydrolysis and microbial fermentation to produce desired products. However, when using commercial fungal enzymes during hydrolysis, only 75–85% of the soluble sugars generated are monomeric sugars, while the remaining 15–25% are soluble recalcitrant oligosaccharides that cannot be easily utilized by microorganisms. Previously, we successfully separated and purified the soluble recalcitrant oligosaccharides using a combination of charcoal and celite-based separation followed by size exclusion chromatography and studies their inhibitory properties on enzymes. We discovered that the oligosaccharides with higher degree of polymerization (DP) containing methylated uronic acid substitutions were more recalcitrant towards commercial enzyme mixtures than lower DP and neutral oligosaccharides. Here, we report the use of several complementary techniques that include glycome profiling using plant biomass glycan specific monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to characterize sugar linkages in plant cell walls and enzymatic hydrolysate, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) using structurally-informative diagnostic peaks offered by negative ion post-secondary decay spectra, gas chromatography followed by mass spectrometry (GC–MS) to characterize oligosaccharide sugar linkages with and without derivatization. Since oligosaccharides (DP 4–20) are small, it is challenging to mobilize these molecules for mAbs binding and characterization. To overcome this problem, we have applied a new biotin-coupling based oligosaccharide immobilization method that successfully tagged most of the low DP soluble oligosaccharides on to a micro-plate surface followed by specific linkage analysis using mAbs in a high-throughput system. This new approach will help develop more advanced versions of future high throughput glycome profiling methods that can be used to separate and characterize oligosaccharides present in biomarkers for diagnostic applications.

Coproduction&amp;nbsp;Xylo-Oligosaccharides With&amp;nbsp;Low Degree of Polymerization and Glucose from Sugarcane Bagasse by Non-Isothermal Subcritical CO &lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;-Assisted Seawater Autohydrolysis

Coproduction&amp;nbsp;Xylo-Oligosaccharides With&amp;nbsp;Low Degree of Polymerization and Glucose from Sugarcane Bagasse by Non-Isothermal Subcritical CO &lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;-Assisted Seawater Autohydrolysis

Oligosaccharide production from preserved yuzu juice using Lactobacillus sakei NY 518 and its prebiotic function

This study focused on the physiochemical characteristics of the oligosaccharide produced in preserved yuzu by NY 518 and its functions based on the intestinal health through antimicrobial activities. NY 518 was identified as Lactobacillus sakei. The oligosaccharide produced by L. sakei NY 518 was gluco-oligosaccharide. The oligosaccharide from preserved yuzu (OY) was found to have lower degree of polymerization than the oligosaccharide from sucrose (OS) owing to the presence of tri- to nona-saccharides. These oligosaccharides had lower pH and increased acidity, soluble solids, and viscosity than their substrates. OY had 67% α-glucosidase inhibition activity of OS and higher antibacterial effects on food-poisoning bacteria than OS. These results indicate that the oligosaccharide produced by L. sakei NY 518 in sugar-preserved foods exhibits beneficial functions (antidiabetic and antibacterial activities) and could be a good substitute for sugar.

Unraveling Ultrasonic Stress Response of Nanovesicles by the Mechanochromism of Self-Assembled Polydiacetylene.

The force response of nanosized vesicles shows substantial applications in drug delivery, cancer therapies, and so on. Conventional methods in mechanical studies on vesicles rely on a camera and an optical microscope, which can hardly work for nanosized particles. Herein, we use self-assembled polydiacetylene (PDA) as a chromic mechanoresponsive group to study the responsiveness of nanovesicles under sonication. The sonication-induced deformation of the PDA backbone and reduction in its conjugation length leads to a color transition from blue to red. Three internal and external factors, including greater shear stress, lower polymerization degree, and higher viscosity of the continue phase, have been found to promote the mechanochromism of the vesicles. These results, for the first time, reveal that the force response of vesicles depends on the actual capillary number (correlated with the three explored factors), even at the nanoscale level, which opens a new avenue to mechanical modulation of nanovesicles for the development of vesicle-based bio- and nanotechniques.

Incorporation of Polymer-Grafted Cellulose Nanocrystals into Latex-Based Pressure-Sensitive Adhesives.

While the improvement of water-based adhesives with renewable additives is important as industry shifts toward more sustainable practices, a complete understanding of how the compatibility between additives and polymers affects adhesive performance is currently lacking. To elucidate these links, cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) were first functionalized via surface-initiated atom-transfer radical polymerization with the hydrophobic polymers poly(butyl acrylate) (PBA) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) to facilitate their incorporation into latex-based pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSAs). Next, PBA latexes were synthesized using seeded semibatch emulsion polymerization with unmodified or polymer-grafted CNCs added in situ at a loading of 0.5 or 1 phm (parts per hundred parts of monomer). Viscosity and electron microscopy suggested that the polymer-grafted CNCs were incorporated inside or on the latex particles. PSAs containing any CNC type had one or more improved properties (compared to the no-CNC "base case"); CNCs with a low degree of polymerization (DP) grafts exhibited improved tack (up to 2.5-fold higher) and peel strength (up to 6-fold higher) relative to PSAs with unmodified CNCs. The best performing PSA contained the low DP PMMA-grafted CNCs, which is attributed to the higher glass transition temperature and the higher wettability of the PMMA grafts compared to PBA, and the more uniform dispersion of polymer-grafted CNCs throughout the PSA film. In contrast, PSAs containing CNCs with high DP grafts resulted in reduced tack and peel strength (compared to low DP grafts) due to enhanced CNC aggregation. Unfortunately, all PSAs containing polymer-grafted CNCs exhibited inferior shear strength relative to PSAs with unmodified CNCs (and comparable shear strength to the no-CNC "base case"). Collectively, these results provide guidelines for future optimization of more sustainable latex-based PSAs.