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Cytotoxicity and physico-chemical evaluation of acetylated and pegylated cellulose nanocrystals

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Abstract

The high hydrophilicity of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) may result in poor dispersion in some matrices and solvents. So in this work, two different methodologies were used to reduce the hydrophilicity of CNC. In the first methodology, CNC were acetylated (CNC-Ac) in a mixture of acetic and hydrochloric acid, and in the second methodology, polyethylene glycol (PEG) was adsorbed onto CNC surface (CNC-PEG) under stirring in aqueous solution. CNC obtained by both methods were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), dynamic light scattering (DLS), zeta potential, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Images of TEM showed that the intrinsic morphology of cellulose was preserved after both treatments. FTIR confirmed acetylation reaction by the presence of a new band at 1732 cm−1 (acetate groups) and the consumption of OH groups. XRD showed a reduction in the crystallinity index for both applied methodologies. DLS showed reduced stability in water for CNC-Ac and CNC-PEG. Values of zeta potential changed after acetylation, from − 45 mV (CNC) to − 1 mV (CNC-Ac), and after adsorption of PEG, to − 26.7 mV (CNC-PEG). TGA showed a reduction in the thermal stability after both treatments and a change in the main degradation behavior for CNC-PEG. MTT assays showed that both proposed functionalizations induce cell proliferation, being even more evident for acetylation because, in addition to viability increase with time, it increased with the sample concentration.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the Materials Engineering Department from the Federal University of São Carlos for the support with TGA analysis. We would also thank LME/LNNano for the use of electron microscopy facility.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fundamental Sciences Division, Technological Institute of Aerocautics, Praça Marechal Eduardo Gomes, 50 - Vila das Acácias, São José dos Campos, São Paulo, 12228-900, Brazil

    Thaís L.A. Montanheiro

  2. Technology Laboratory of Polymers and Biopolymers, Federal University of São Paulo, Talim, 330 – Vila Nair, São José dos Campos, São Paulo, 12231-280, Brazil

    Thaís L.A. Montanheiro, Larissa S. Montagna, Fabio R. Passador & Ana Paula Lemes

  3. Brazilian Nanotechnology National Laboratory, CNPEM, Giuseppe Máximo Scolfaro, 10000 - Polo II de Alta Tecnologia, Campinas, São Paulo, 13083-970, Brazil

    Marcelo A. de Farias

  4. Laboratory of Nanomaterials and Nanotoxicology, Federal University of São Paulo, Talim, 330 – Vila Nair, São José dos Campos, São Paulo, 12231-280, Brazil

    Jéssica A. Magalhães & Dayane B. Tada

  5. Associated Laboratory of Materials and Sensors (LAS), National Institute of Space Research, Av dos Astronautas, 1.758 - Jardim da Granja, São José dos Campos, São Paulo, 12227-010, Brazil

    João Paulo B. Machado

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  1. Thaís L.A. Montanheiro
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  2. Larissa S. Montagna
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  3. Marcelo A. de Farias
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Correspondence to Thaís L.A. Montanheiro.

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Montanheiro, T.L., Montagna, L.S., de Farias, M.A. et al. Cytotoxicity and physico-chemical evaluation of acetylated and pegylated cellulose nanocrystals. J Nanopart Res 20, 206 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-018-4306-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-018-4306-3

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