Highly tunable bioadhesion and optics of 3D printable PNIPAm/cellulose nanofibrils hydrogels. (15th April 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sun, Xiaohang; Tyagi, Preeti; Agate, Sachin; McCord, Marian G.; Lucia, Lucian A.; Pal, Lokendra
• Is Part Of: Carbohydrate polymers. Volume 234(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-04-15
• Subjects: Stimuli-responsive materials -- Tunable transparency -- Switchable bioadhesion -- Hydrogels -- Cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) -- Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAm) -- Inverted stereolithography -- 3D printing; Polysaccharides -- Periodicals; Polysaccharides -- Periodicals; Polysaccharides -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 547.78
• DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2020.115898
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0144-8617

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: Tunable poly(N-Isopropylacrylamide)-cellulose nanofibrils hydrogel films. Fabrication using inverted SLA 3D printing to provide a new manufacturing platform. Switchable bio-adhesion to bacteria depending on the CNF content and distribution. Unique thermo-responsivity and tunable optical performance. Modulation of LCST (∼ 8 °C reduction) relative to pure PNIPAm hydrogel films. Abstract: A hybrid poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAm)/cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) hydrogel composite was fabricated by inverted stereolithography 3D printing to provide a new platform for regulating lower critical solution temperature (LCST) properties and thus tuning optical and bioadhesive properties. The phenomena of interest in the as-printed PNIPAm/CNF hydrogels may be attributed to the fiber-reinforced composite system between crosslinked PNIPAm and CNFs. The optical tunability was found to be correlated to the micro/nano structures of the PNIPAm/CNF hydrogel films. It was found that PNIPAm/CNF hydrogels exhibit switchable bioadhesivity to bacteria in response to CNF distribution in the hydrogels. After 2.0 wt% CNF was incorporated, it was found that a remarkable 8°C reduction of the LCST was achieved relative to PNIPAm hydrogel crosslinked by TEGDMA without CNF. The prepared PNIPAm/CNF hydrogels possessed highly reversible optical, bioadhesion, and thermal performance, making them suitable to be used as durable temperature-sensitive sensors and functional biomedical devices.