Physically and chemically cross-linked cellulose cryogels: Structure, properties and application for controlled release

Diana Ciolacu (1) , Cyrielle Rudaz (2) , Mihai Vasilescu (3) , Tatiana Budtova (2)

1 ICMPP - Laboratory of Natural Polymers, Bioactive and Biocompatible Materials, Petru Poni Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry of Romanian Academy, Iasi, Romania
2 CEMEF - Centre de Mise en Forme des Matériaux
3 UBB - Babes-Bolyai University [Cluj-Napoca]

Porous cellulose matrices were prepared via cellulose dissolution in 8 wt% NaOH-water, physical gelation and chemical cross-linking with epichlorohydrin (ECH), coagulation in water and lyophilisation. Cellulose and cross-linker concentration were varied. The behaviour of gels upon coagulation and the swelling of cryogels in water were analysed. An anomalous high swelling at cross-linker concentration around stoichiometric molar ratio with cellulose was observed. Cellulose cryogel morphology, crystallinity and density were studied. The influence of chemical cross-linking on cellulose swelling was explained by suggesting that ECH acts as a spacer preventing cellulose chains tight packing during coagulation. Cellulose was loaded with a model drug, procaine hydrochloride, and the kinetics of its release was investigated.

Mots clés: Cellulose, Cross-linking, Cryogel, Hydrogel, Swelling, Controlled release

Domaines: Sciences de l'ingénieur [physics]

Diana Ciolacu, Cyrielle Rudaz, Mihai Vasilescu, Tatiana Budtova. Physically and chemically cross-linked cellulose cryogels: Structure, properties and application for controlled release. Carbohydrate Polymers, 2016, 151, pp.392-400. ⟨10.1016/j.carbpol.2016.05.084⟩. ⟨hal-02420038⟩