Challenges in Synthesis and Analysis of Asymmetrically Grafted Cellulose Nanocrystals via Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization

Gwendoline Delepierre, Katja Heise, Kiia Malinen, Tetyana Koso, Leena Pitkänen, Emily D. Cranston, Ilkka Kilpeläinen, Mauri A. Kostiainen, Eero Kontturi, Christoph Weder, Justin O. Zoppe, Alistair W.T. King*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleScientificpeer-review

18 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

When cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) are isolated from cellulose microfibrils, the parallel arrangement of the cellulose chains in the crystalline domains is retained so that all reducing end-groups (REGs) point to one crystallite end. This permits the selective chemical modification of one end of the CNCs. In this study, two reaction pathways are compared to selectively attach atom-transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) initiators to the REGs of CNCs, using reductive amination. This modification further enabled the site-specific grafting of the anionic polyelectrolyte poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) (PSS) from the CNCs. Different analytical methods, including colorimetry and solution-state NMR analysis, were combined to confirm the REG-modification with ATRP-initiators and PSS. The achieved grafting yield was low due to either a limited conversion of the CNC REGs or side reactions on the polymerization initiator during the reductive amination. The end-tethered CNCs were easy to redisperse in water after freeze-drying, and the shear birefringence of colloidal suspensions is maintained after this process.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2702-2717
JournalBiomacromolecules
Volume22
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 14 Jun 2021
MoE publication typeA1 Journal article-refereed

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