Gelatin/nanocellulose hydrogels: A potential materials for biomedical applications

PIZZANO, ALDANA; BRACONE, MELINA; GONZALEZ, JIMENA; ALVAREZ, VERA; HORST, MARIA FERNANDA; LASSALLE, VERÓNICA

Workshop; Workshop on Insights and Strategies Towards a Bio-Based Economy; 2016

Nanocellulose is an attractive emerging material for biomedical applications due to its renewable nature, anisotropic shape, excellent mechanical properties, and good biocompatibility, among others.Hydrogels are soft materials, capable of holding large amounts of water in their networks maintaining their shape. For all these features, they are ideal materials for many biomedical applications. In particular, gelatin hydrogels are biocompatible, natural, biodegradable and non-toxic. However they lack in mechanical properties. In this context, nanocellulose can be add to produce nanocomposites with improved mechanical stiffness and durability. Moreover, hydrogel composites with nanocellulose seems to be promising biomaterials.The aim of this study is to synthesize gelatin based hydrogels modified with nanocellulose for biomedical applications. The nanocellulose was obtained from commercial microcellulose (sourced by Sigma Aldrich) by a mechanical procedure using an ultrasound tip (an ecofriendly procedure). The gelatin/nanocellulose hydrogel was prepared from freeze-thawing technique. In brief, an amount of gelatin and gum arabic (crosslinked agent) were dispersed in distilled water. The addition of aqueous dispersion of nanocellulose was performed and the mixture was allowed swell at 6°C during 24 h. Then, the temperature was increased to 50°C and maintained for an hour. After that, the solution was filled in disposable molds, allowing the formation of the hydrogel. Different amounts of nanocellulose content from 2 to 10 wt.% were evaluated.