Syneresis as a side process during gelation of cellulose nanocrystals and gelatin and its suppression

Abstract

Currently, a commercially available Matrigel is being used to grow three-dimensional spatially oriented cellular structures, which is a basement membrane matrix extracted from Engelbreth–Holm–Swarm mouse sarcoma and has a complex protein composition. However, its use is limited by its complex and poorly defined composition, which can vary from batch to batch, limited long-term stability due to enzymatic degradation, and limited adaptability of its physical properties (viscosity, modulus of elasticity) for use in microfluidic systems. Among biopolymers, cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) are attracting increasing interest from both academic and industrial fields due to their fibrillar nanostructure, biocompatibility, ease of modification, and high surface density of hydroxyl groups. When CNC interacts with other polymers, such as gelatin, a small amount of water is released as a reaction byproduct. Furthermore, during the gelation process, a syneresis effect occurs, which is the spontaneous shrinkage of the gel and the expulsion of liquid. Depending on the CNC-to-gelatin ratio and the total polymer concentration in the system, the extent of syneresis—calculated as the ratio of water released after 24 hours of gelation to the total water content of the gel—varies.
Since this effect can interfere with experiments in microfluidic systems, we propose using hyaluronic acid to suppress water release due to its high water-absorbing capacity. This work presents the results of an experimental study on the syneresis effect in a CNC-gelatin polymer system, investigating the influence of component ratios, total polymer concentration, pH, and temperature. Furthermore, it demonstrates the suppression of syneresis using biocompatible hyaluronic acid.

Speaker

Anastasia Belyaeva
N.E. Bauman Moscow State Technical University, Moscow, Russia
Russia

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