Nanocellulose-shelled polymer microparticles prepared via emulsion templating

2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 17K15298
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Wood science
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: Fujisawa Shuji 東京大学, 大学院農学生命科学研究科(農学部), 助教 (80756453)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2020-03-31
• Keywords: セルロースナノファイバー / エマルション / マイクロ粒子

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Nanocellulose, a natural colloidal nanofibril, is a promising candidate material for applications in such structures, owing to its unique nanoscale dimension, excellent mechanical properties, and good chemical stability. However, processes for assembling this material into structures at the nanoscale have yet to be explored. Here, we develop a robust approach to forming ultrathin shells of nanocellulose on polymer microparticles through emulsion-templated assembly. The particles showed good dispersibility in water and mechanical resistance. The surface nanocellulose shells showed pH-sensitive drug loading/releasing properties, which suggest potential for a range of therapeutic and biomedical applications.

Free Research Field

複合材料学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

セルロースナノファイバー薄膜を有する微細粒子はドラッグデリバリーや環境問題解決へ向けた水浄化など、機能性材料として様々な分野への利用が期待でき、木質資源の利用拡大につながります。また、本薄膜形成技術は、セルロースナノファイバーの液/液界面における自己組織化を利用した手法であり、ナノファイバーの界面科学的理解を深める研究成果です。