Improving the mechanical and thermal properties of gelatin hydrogels cross-linked by cellulose nanowhiskers

► Oxidized cellulose nanowhiskers as biorenewable and biocompatible chemical cross-linkers. ► Chemical cross-linking between gelatin and oxidized nanowhiskers improved the storage modulus by 150%. ► A significant increase in thermal stability of the hydrogels after chemical cross-linking.