Recent progress in regenerated cellulose-based fibers from alkali/urea system via spinning process

Aqueous AlCl3/ZnCl2 solution room-induced the self-growing strategy of expanded topological network for cellulose/polyacrylamide-based solid-state electrolytes

The green synthesis strategy for cellulose-containing hydrogel electrolytes is significant for effectively managing resources, energy, and environmental concerns in the contemporary world. Herein, we propose an all-green strategy using AlCl3/ZnCl2/H2O solvent to create cellulose/polyacrylamide-based hydrogel (AZ-Cel/PAM) with expanded hierarchical topologies. The aqueous AlCl3/ZnCl2 facilitates the efficient dissolution of cellulose at room temperature, and the dispersed Al3+-Zn2+ ions autocatalytic system catalyzes in-situ polymerization of acrylamide (AM) monomer. This expands the AM network within the cellulose framework, forming multiple bonding interactions and stable ion channels. The resulting hybrid hydrogel exhibits improved mechanical properties (tensile strength of 56.54 kPa and compressive strength of 359.43 kPa) and enhanced ionic conductivity (1.99 S/m). Furthermore, it also demonstrates excellent adhesion, freeze resistance (-45 °C), and water retention capabilities. Quantum simulations further clarify the mechanical composition and ion transport mechanism of AZ-Cel/PAM hydrogels. The assembled supercapacitor with the hydrogel electrolyte, demonstrates an ideal area-specific capacitance of 203.80 mF/cm2. This all-green strategy presents a novel approach to developing sustainable energy storage devices.

Preparation of chitin twisted fiber and its functional applications

Chitin has garnered significant attention due to its renewable, biocompatibility and biodegradability, while its practical application seriously hindered as the functionality of chitin itself can no longer meet people's increasing requirements for materials. Here, an effective method is successfully built for high-performance chitin fibers fabrication through a multi-step strategy that involved chemical pre-crosslinking, followed by wet-twisting and wet-stretching techniques, combined with physical cross-linking. The as-prepared chitin fiber exhibited a smooth surface, adjustable diameter, and mechanical strong properties (144.6 MPa). More importantly, functional chitin fiber with magnetic or conductive abilities can be easily obtained by spraying Fe3O4 particles or Ag nanowire on the chemical pre-crosslinking chitin gel film before stretching and twisting. The doped functional inorganic particles exist in a continuous ribbon structure in the fiber reduced the decrease in material strength caused by uneven particles dispersion, resulting 88.4 % of stress and 91.6 % of strain retention. This work not only bestow invaluable insights into the fabrication of functional chitin fibers but also provide a novel approach to solve the problem of poor compatibility between organic and inorganic composite materials.

High tensile regenerated cellulose fibers via cyclic freeze-thawing enabled dissolution in phosphoric acid for textile-to-textile recycling of waste cotton fabrics

Recycling of waste cotton fabrics (WCFs) is a desirable solution to address the problems brought up by fast fashion, but it remains challenging due to inherent limitations in preparing stable and spinnable dopes by dissolving high molecular weight cellulose efficiently and cost effectively. Herein, we show that despite the prevailing concerns of cellulose degradation via glycosidic hydrolysis when dissolved in acids, fast and non-destructive direct dissolution of WCFs in aqueous phosphoric acid (a.q. PA) could be realized using a cyclic freeze-thawing procedure, which combined with subsequent adjustment of degree of polymerization (DP) and degassing yielded stable and spinnable dopes. Regenerated cellulose fibers (RCFs) with favorable tensile strength (414.2 ± 14.3 MPa) and flexibility (15.4 ± 1.5 %) could be obtained by carefully adjusting the coagulation conditions to induce oriented and compact packing of the cellulose chains. The method was shown to be conveniently extended to dissolve reactively dyed WCFs, showing great potential as a cheap and green alternative to heavily explored ionic liquids (ILs) and N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide (NMMO)-based systems for textile-to-textile recycling of WCFs.

Preparation of graphene/carbon nanotube-cellulose composites assisted by ionic liquids: A review

As is well known, cellulose, as a natural polymer material with abundant reserves, plays an irreplaceable role as the major raw material in energy and chemical-related fields. With the continuous advancement of technology, native single-component cellulose is often unsatisfactory for practical applications, constructing composites is an effective means of expanding the applications. When compounded with other ingredients to prepare composites, cellulose usually needs to be dissolved and regenerated to obtain good dispersion. Current studies have revealed that cellulose is insoluble in conventional solvents, and the limited types of solvent systems that can dissolve cellulose tend to degrade the cellulose during the dissolution process, altering the cellulose properties. Ionic liquids (ILs) are a class of solvents that are capable of dissolving cellulose without adversely affecting the cellulose during the dissolution process, such as degradation. Graphene and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are poorly dispersed and easily agglomerated by π-π stacking in general solvents, whereas ILs can effectively shield them from π-π stacking, resulting in a favorable and steady dispersion. Thus, the cellulose composites of graphene/CNTs can be prepared with the assistance of ILs. In this paper, the solubilization of cellulose by ILs and the solubilization mechanism to the preparation of cellulose composites with graphene/CNTs are reviewed, the interactions between graphene, CNTs and cellulose in the composites are elucidated, and the preparation of cellulose composites with graphene/CNTs is introduced in terms of their structure, properties and application potential.

Efficient cellulose dissolution and derivatization enabled by oxalic/sulfuric acid for high-performance cellulose films as food packaging

The performance of cellulose-based materials is highly dependent on the choice of solvent systems. Exceptionally, cellulose dissolution and derivatization by efficient solvent have been considered as a key factor for large-scale industrial applications of cellulose. However, cellulose dissolution and derivatization often requires harsh reaction conditions, high energy consumption, and complex solubilizing, resulting in environmental impacts and low practical value. Here we address these limitations by using a low-temperature oxalic acid/sulfuric acid solvent to enable cellulose dissolution and derivatization for high-performance cellulose films. The dissolution and derivatization mechanism of the mixed acid is studied, demonstrating that cellulose is firstly socked by oxalic acid, then more hydrogen bonds ionized by sulfuric acid break cellulose chain, and finally the esterification reaction between oxalic acid and cellulose is catalyzed by sulfuric acid. Solutions containing 8 %-10 % cellulose are obtained and can be stored for a long time at -18 °C without significant degradation. Moreover, the cellulose film exhibits a higher tensile strength of up to 66.1 MPa, thermal stability, and degree of polymerization compared to that fabricated by sulfuric acid. These unique advantages provide new paths to utilize renewable resources for alternative food packaging materials at an industrial scale.

Revisiting various mechanistic approaches for cellulose dissolution in different solvent systems: A comprehensive review

The process of dissolving cellulose is a pivotal step in transforming it into functional, value-added materials, necessitating a thorough comprehension of the underlying mechanisms to refine its advanced processing. This article reviews cellulose dissolution using various solvent systems, along with an in-depth exploration of the associated dissolution mechanisms. The efficacy of different solvents, including aqueous solvents, organic solvents, ionic liquids, hybrid ionic liquid/cosolvent systems, and deep eutectic solvents, in dissolving cellulose is scrutinized, and their limitations and advantages are highlighted. In addition, this review methodically outlines the mechanisms at play within these various solvent systems and the factors influencing cellulose solubility. Conclusions drawn highlight the integral roles of the degree of polymerization, crystallinity, particle size, the type and sizes of cations and anions, alkyl chain length, ionic liquid/cosolvent ratio, viscosity, solvent acidity, basicity, and hydrophobic interactions in the dissolution process. This comprehensive review aims to provide valuable insights for researchers investigating biopolymer dissolution in a broader context, thereby paving the way for broader applications and innovations of these solvent systems.

Adjustable strength and toughness of dual cross-linked nanocellulose films via spherical cellulose as soft-phase

Nanocellulose films possess numerous merits ascribing to their inherent biocompatibility, non-toxic and biodegradability properties. The potential for practical applications would be improved if their mechanical strength and toughness requirements could be met simultaneously. Herein, dual cross-linked nanocellulose (DC) film was fabricated by the treatments of chemical and physical cross-linking, which was mechanically superior to pure nanocellulose (CNF) films. To further increase the toughness of DC films, spherical cellulose (Sph) was incorporated into DC film (DC-Sph film), and analyzed under different humidity conditions (RH) (from 10 % to 90 %). The changes of functional groups of CNF, DC and DC-Sph films were detected by FTIR and XPS spectrum. The epichlorohydrin and Sph content were optimized, followed by the investigation of RH on the toughness of films. The highest tensile strength (146.6 ± 4.6 MPa) was obtained in DC film at 50 % RH, while the DC-Sph film showed the largest toughness (40.3 ± 3.7 kJ/m2) at 70 % RH. Furthermore, the possible toughening mechanism of DC-Sph film was also discussed.

Easy and versatile cellulosic support inhibiting broad spectrum strains: synergy between photodynamic antimicrobial therapy and polymyxin B

Despite advances achieved in the health field over the last decade, infections caused by resistant bacterial strains are an increasingly important societal issue that needs to be addressed. New approaches have already been developed to overcome this problem. Photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy (PACT) could provide a promising alternative method to eradicate microbes. This approach has already inspired the development of innovative surfaces. Interesting results were achieved against Gram-positive bacteria, but it also appeared that Gram-negative strains, especially Pseudomonas aeruginosa, were less sensitive to PACT. However, materials coated with cationic porphyrins have already proven their wide-spectrum activity, but these materials were not suitable for industrial-scale production. The main aim of this work was the design of a large-scale evolutionary material based on PACT and antibiotic prophylaxis. Transparent regenerated cellulose has been simply impregnated with a usual cationic porphyrin (N-methylpyridyl) and an antimicrobial peptide (polymyxin B). In addition to its photophysical properties, this film exhibited a wide-spectrum bactericidal activity over 4 days despite daily application of fresh bacterial inoculums. The efficiency of PACT and polymyxin B combination could help to reduce the emergence of bacterial multi-resistant strains and we believe that this kind of material would provide an excellent opportunity to prevent bacterial contamination of bandages or packaging.

Cellulosic Textiles-An Appealing Trend for Different Pharmaceutical Applications

Cellulose, the most abundant biopolymer in nature, is derived from various sources. The production of pharmaceutical textiles based on cellulose represents a growing sector. In medicated textiles, textile and pharmaceutical sciences are integrated to develop new healthcare approaches aiming to improve patient compliance. Through the possibility of cellulose functionalization, pharmaceutical textiles can broaden the applications of cellulose in the biomedical field. This narrative review aims to illustrate both the methods of extraction and preparation of cellulose fibers, with a particular focus on nanocellulose, and diverse pharmaceutical applications like tissue restoration and antimicrobial, antiviral, and wound healing applications. Additionally, the merging between fabricated cellulosic textiles with drugs, metal nanoparticles, and plant-derived and synthetic materials are also illustrated. Moreover, new emerging technologies and the use of smart medicated textiles (3D and 4D cellulosic textiles) are not far from those within the review scope. In each section, the review outlines some of the limitations in the use of cellulose textiles, indicating scientific research that provides significant contributions to overcome them. This review also points out the faced challenges and possible solutions in a trial to present an overview on all issues related to the use of cellulose for the production of pharmaceutical textiles.

Effect of hemicellulose content on the solution properties of cellulose carbamates in NaOH/ZnO aqueous system

Hemicellulose removal from bleached bamboo pulp is key to produce qualified dissolving pulps. In this work, alkali/urea aqueous solution was firstly applied to remove hemicellulose in bleached bamboo pulp (BP). The effect of urea usage, time and temperature on the hemicellulose content of BP was studied. The reduction of hemicellulose content from 15.9 to 5.7 % was achieved in 6 wt% NaOH/1 wt% urea aqueous solution at 40 °C for 30 min. Cellulose carbamates (CCs) were obtained from the esterification of BP with urea. The dissolution behavior of CCs in NaOH/ZnO aqueous solutions with different degree of polymerization (DP), hemicellulose and nitrogen contents were studied by using optical microscope and rheology. The highest solubility was up to 97.7 % when the hemicellulose was 5.7 % and Mη was 6.5 × 104 (g/mol). With the decrease of hemicellulose content from 15.9 % to 8.60 % and 5.70 %, the gel temperature increased from 59.0, 69.0 to 73.4 °C. The apparent gelation time increased from 5640 to 12,120 s with the hemicellulose content increased from 8.60 % to 15.9 %. CC solution with 5.70 % hemicellulose always keeps a liquid-state (G" > G') until the test time reached 17,000 s. The results showed that the removal of hemicellulose, the decrease of DP and the increase of esterification endowed CC with higher solubility and solution stability.

Fractionation of depectinated sugar beet pulp into cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin with NaOH/urea/H2O and ionic liquid

This study proposes a novel and feasible dissolution and fractionation method of depectinated sugar beet pulp (SBP) in NaOH/Urea/H₂O, ionic liquid (IL) and alkaline treatment processes. Interestingly, the complicated structure of SBP can be treated with 30 % H₂SO₄ to increase the dissolution rate. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis confirmed that the appearance of cellulose and hemicellulose obtained by two methods were different. At the same time, two lignin fractions showed irregular high-density clusters, which were composed of a large number of submicron particles. The crystal structure of two cellulose fractions changed from cellulose I to cellulose II. The thermal stability of cellulose and lignin obtained by ionic liquid was slightly better than that obtained by NaOH/urea/H₂O. Results of Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and ¹³C NMR showed that the chemical structures of SBP cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin regenerated from NaOH/urea/H₂O and ionic liquid were similar.

One-Step Treatment for Upgrading Bleached Bamboo Pulp to Dissolving Pulp High Solvency in Green Alkali/Urea Aqueous Solution

Bleached bamboo pulp, as a kind of natural cellulose, has received significant attention in the field of biomass materials due to its advantages of environmental protection and the abundance of raw materials. Low-temperature alkali/urea aqueous system is a green dissolution technology for cellulose, which has promising application prospects in the field of regenerated cellulose materials. However, bleached bamboo pulp, with high viscosity average molecular weight (Mη) and high crystallinity, is difficult to dissolve in an alkaline urea solvent system, restraining its practical application in the textile field. Herein, based on commercial bleached bamboo pulp with high Mη, a series of dissolvable bamboo pulps with suitable Mη was prepared using a method of adjusting the ratio of sodium hydroxide and hydrogen peroxide in the pulping process. Due to the hydroxyl radicals being able to react with hydroxyls of cellulose, molecular chains are cut down. Moreover, several regenerated cellulose hydrogels and films were fabricated in an ethanol coagulation bath or a citric acid coagulation bath, and the relationship between the properties of the regenerated materials and the Mη of the bamboo cellulose was systematically studied. The results showed that hydrogel/film had good mechanical properties, as the Mη is 8.3 × 104 and the tensile strength of a regenerated film and the film have values up to 101 MPa and 3.19 MPa, respectively. In this contribution, a simple method of a one-step oxidation of hydroxyl radicals to prepare bamboo cellulose with diversified Mη is presented, providing an avenue for a preparation of dissolving pulp with different Mη in an alkali/urea dissolution system and expanding the practical applications of bamboo pulp in biomass-based materials, textiles, and biomedical materials.

Carbohydrate polymer-based nanocomposites for breast cancer treatment

Breast cancer is known as the most common invasive malignancy in women with the highest mortality rate worldwide. This concerning disease may be presented in situ (relatively easier treatment) or be invasive, especially invasive ductal carcinoma which is highly worrisome nowadays. Among several strategies used in breast cancer treatment, nanotechnology-based targeted therapy is currently being investigated, as it depicts advanced technological features able of preventing drugs' side effects on normal cells while effectively acting on tumor cells. In this context, carbohydrate polymer-based nanocomposites have gained particular interest among the biomedical community for breast cancer therapy applications due to their advantage features, including abundance in nature, biocompatibility, straightforward fabrication methods, and good physicochemical properties. In this review, the physicochemical properties and biological activities of carbohydrate polymers and their derivate nanocomposites were discussed. Then, various methods for the fabrication of carbohydrate polymer-based nanocomposites as well as their application in breast cancer therapy and future perspectives were discussed.

Organized mineralized cellulose nanostructures for biomedical applications

Cellulose is the most abundant naturally-occurring polymer, and possesses a one-dimensional (1D) anisotropic crystalline nanostructure with outstanding mechanical robustness, biocompatibility, renewability and rich surface chemistry in the form of nanocellulose in nature. Such features make cellulose an ideal bio-template for directing the bio-inspired mineralization of inorganic components into hierarchical nanostructures that are promising in biomedical applications. In this review, we will summarize the chemistry and nanostructure characteristics of cellulose and discuss how these favorable characteristics regulate the bio-inspired mineralization process for manufacturing the desired nanostructured bio-composites. We will focus on uncovering the design and manipulation principles of local chemical compositions/constituents and structural arrangement, distribution, dimensions, nanoconfinement and alignment of bio-inspired mineralization over multiple length-scales. In the end, we will underline how these cellulose biomineralized composites benefit biomedical applications. It is expected that this deep understanding of design and fabrication principles will enable construction of outstanding structural and functional cellulose/inorganic composites for more challenging biomedical applications.

A computational study of cellulose regeneration: Coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations

Understanding the microscopic mechanisms of regeneration of cellulose is prerequisite for engineering and controlling its material properties. In this paper, we performed coarse-grained Martini 3 molecular dynamics simulations of cellulose regeneration at a scale comparable to the experiments. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) curves were monitored to follow the structural changes of regenerated cellulose and trace formation of cellulose sheets and crystallites. The calculated coarse-grained morphologies of regenerated cellulose were backmapped to atomistic ones. After the backmapping we find that the regenerated coarse-grained cellulose structures calculated for both topology parameters of cellulose I_β and cellulose II/III, are transformed to cellulose II, where the calculated XRD curves exhibit the main peak at approximately 20-21 degrees, corresponding to the (110)/(020) planes of cellulose II. This result is in good quantitative agreement with the available experimental observations.

In situ synthesis of Ag/Ag2O-cellulose/chitosan nanocomposites via adjusting KOH concentration for improved photocatalytic and antibacterial applications

This work proposed a facile way to construct cellulose/chitosan-loaded Ag/Ag₂O nanocomposite films (ACC) from alkali/urea solution by increasing the content of alkali KOH in the solvent. The saturated alkali and hydroxyl groups of the cellulose and chitosan chains were accelerated to convert AgNO₃ to Ag⁰. Ag₂O served as nuclei to lower the energy barrier. The formation of Ag/Ag₂O nanoparticles (NPs) endowed the cellulose bio-reduced Ag composites with multifunction and stronger photocatalytic activity. Ag/Ag₂O NPs with the diameter of 139-360 nm were uniformly dispersed in the composite films, resulting in superior mechanical properties (64.6 MPa) and thermal stability. Almost 92 % of methyl orange was degraded under UV-irradiation within 40 min by ACC. After 3 runs of degradation, the photocatalytic abilities of ACC remained. Moreover, the films exhibited good antibacterial activities. The width of inhibition zones around ACC reached 9.2-12 mm and 8.6-10.4 mm for S. aureus and E. coli. The strategy provided a new avenue to construct multifunctional cellulose/chitosan materials for various applications, such as wastewater treatment, and electrocatalysis.

High strength and biodegradable dielectric film with synergistic alignment of chitosan nanofibrous networks and BNNSs

The development of biodegradable and robust dielectric capacitors with high breakdown strength and energy density are indispensable. Herein, the high strength chitosan/edge hydroxylated boron nitride nanosheets (BNNSs-OH) dielectric film was fabricated via combining the dual chemically-physically crosslinking and the drafting orientation strategy, which could induced BNNSs-OH and chitosan crosslinked network alignment within the film via covalent and hydrogen bonding interaction, leading to the comprehensive reinforcement of tensile strength from 126 to 240 MPa, the E_b from 448 to 584 MV m^-1, the in-plane thermal conductivity from 1.46 to 5.95 W m^-1 K^-1 and energy storage density from 7.22 to 13.71 J cm^-1, superior than the comprehensive evaluation of the reported polymer dielectrics. The dielectric film could be completely degraded in soil in 90 days, which opened a new path for the development of next-generation environment-friendly dielectrics with excellent mechanical and dielectric properties.