title: Nanostructurally Controlled Hydrogel Based on Small-Diameter Native Chitin Nanofibers: Preparation, Structure, and Properties.
abstract: Chitin nanofibers of unique structure and properties can be obtained from crustacean and fishery waste. These chitin nanofibers have roughly 4 nm diameters, aspect ratios between 25-250, a high degree of acetylation and preserved crystallinity, and can be potentially applied in hydrogels. Hydrogels with a chitin nanofiber content of 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0 wt % were successfully prepared. The methodology for preparation is new, environmentally friendly, and simple as gelation is induced by neutralization of the charged colloidal mixture, inducing precipitation and secondary bond interaction between nanofibers. Pore structure and pore size distributions of corresponding aerogels are characterized using auto-porosimetry, revealing a substantial fraction of nanoscale pores. To the best of our knowledge, the values for storage (13 kPa at 3 wt %) and compression modulus (309 kPa at 2 wt %) are the highest reported for chitin nanofibers hydrogels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Fiber and Polymer Technology, Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), 100 44, Stockholm, Sweden. blund@kth.se.
authors.forename: Ngesa Ezekiel
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-1848-6120
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Mushi
authors.affiliation: Department of Fiber and Polymer Technology, Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), 100 44, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Joby
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kochumalayil
authors.affiliation: Department of Fiber and Polymer Technology, Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), 100 44, Stockholm, Sweden.|Wallenberg Wood Science Center, Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), 100 44, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Nicholas Tchang
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Cervin
authors.affiliation: Wallenberg Wood Science Center, Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), 100 44, Stockholm, Sweden.|School of Biotechnology, Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), AlbaNova University Centre, 106 91, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Qi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Department of Fiber and Polymer Technology, Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), 100 44, Stockholm, Sweden.|Wallenberg Wood Science Center, Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), 100 44, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Lars A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Berglund
mesh_terms: D002686:Chitin / Q000737:chemistry*; D019245:Compressive Strength; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry*; D015394:Molecular Structure; D057139:Nanofibers / Q000737:chemistry*; D016062:Porosity
chemical_list: D020100:Hydrogels; D002686:Chitin
keywords: chitin; compression; hydrogel; nanofibers; rheology