Aerogels from Cellulose Phosphates of Low Degree of Substitution: A TBAF·H<sub>2</sub>O/DMSO Based Approach

oleh: Christian B. Schimper, Paul S. Pachschwoell, Hubert Hettegger, Marie-Alexandra Neouze, Jean-Marie Nedelec, Martin Wendland, Thomas Rosenau, Falk Liebner

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: MDPI AG 2020-04-01

Deskripsi

Biopolymer aerogels of appropriate open-porous morphology, nanotopology, surface chemistry, and mechanical properties can be promising cell scaffolding materials. Here, we report a facile approach towards the preparation of cellulose phosphate aerogels from two types of cellulosic source materials. Since high degrees of phosphorylation would afford water-soluble products inappropriate for cell scaffolding, products of low DS<sub>P</sub> (ca. 0.2) were prepared by a heterogeneous approach. Aiming at both i) full preservation of chemical integrity of cellulose during dissolution and ii) utilization of specific phase separation mechanisms upon coagulation of cellulose, TBAF·H<sub>2</sub>O/DMSO was employed as a non-derivatizing solvent. Sequential dissolution of cellulose phosphates, casting, coagulation, solvent exchange, and scCO<sub>2</sub> drying afforded lightweight, nano-porous aerogels. Compared to their non-derivatized counterparts, cellulose phosphate aerogels are less sensitive towards shrinking during solvent exchange. This is presumably due to electrostatic repulsion and translates into faster scCO<sub>2</sub> drying. The low DS<sub>P</sub> values have no negative impact on pore size distribution, specific surface (<i>S</i><sub>BET</sub> ≤ 310 m<sup>2</sup> g<sup>−1</sup>), porosity (Π 95.5–97 vol.%), or stiffness (<i>E</i>ρ ≤ 211 MPa cm<sup>3</sup> g<sup>−1</sup>). Considering the sterilization capabilities of scCO<sub>2</sub>, existing templating opportunities to afford dual-porous scaffolds and the good hemocompatibility of phosphorylated cellulose, TBAF·H<sub>2</sub>O/DMSO can be regarded a promising solvent system for the manufacture of cell scaffolding materials.