Highly flexible hydrogels built by heat-induced hydrogen bond remodeling can switch between dry and damp states Credit: Fusheng Zhang and Qiongya Li
Researchers develop an insoluble CNC hydrogel with high level of sensitivity to calcium ions, paving the way for sustainable cellulose sensors in wearable devices and biomedicine.
Cellulose nanocrystal (CNC), an emerging bio-based material, has actually been commonly used in fields like electronics, bioplastics, and energy.
Nevertheless, functional failure of such materials in liquid or damp environments inevitably hinders their advancement in biomedicine, membrane separation, ecological monitoring, and wearable devices.
Now, a research group led by Prof. Guangyan Qing from the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics (DICP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences reported a sustainable, insoluble, and chiral photonic cellulose nanocrystal spot for calcium ion (Ca2+) noticing in sweat.
The research study, published recently in the journal Small, provides an originality for the functionalization of CNC.
The scientists established a efficient and simple approach to make insoluble CNC-based hydrogels. They found that by using intermolecular hydrogen bond reconstruction, thermal dehydration made it possible for the enhanced CNC composite photonic film to form a steady hydrogel network in an aqueous service. They showed that the hydrogel could be reversibly switched between dry and wet states, which was hassle-free for particular functionalization.
The intro of functionalized molecules by adsorption swelling in a liquid environment resulted in a hydrogel with freeze resistance (– 20 ° C), strong adhesion, great biocompatibility, and high level of sensitivity to Ca2+.
” This work is expected to assist in the application of sustainable cellulose sensors to monitor other metabolites (i.e., glucose, urea, and vitamins, etc),” said Prof. Qing. “It likewise lays the foundation for digitally controlled hydrogel systems operating in environment monitoring, membrane separation, and wearable gadgets.”
Referral: “Sustainable, Insoluble, and Photonic Cellulose Nanocrystal Patches for Calcium Ion Sensing in Sweat” by Qiongya Li, Chenchen He, Cunli Wang, Yuxiao Huang, Jiaqi Yu, Chunbo Wang, Wei Li, Xin Zhang, Fusheng Zhang and Guangyan Qing, 13 April 2023, Small.DOI: 10.1002/ smll.202207932.