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