Effect of modified cellulose nanocrystals on microstructural and mechanical properties of polyvinyl alcohol/ovalbumin biocomposite scaffolds

• Porous PVA–CNCs/OVA and PVA–CNCs–NH2/OVA scaffolds were fabricated by the freeze drying process.
• The effect of unmodified and aminated CNCs on scaffolds was investigated.
• Highly porous scaffolds having good pore-interconnectivity were produced.
• Similar compressive strengths (0.21 MPa and 0.26 MPa) were observed.

In order to improve the functional compatibility and mechanical performance of biocomposite scaffolds, two different biocomposite scaffolds based on ovalbumin (OVA)/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) reinforced with unmodified and aminated cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) cross-linked with glutaraldehyde (GA) were fabricated by a freeze drying process. It was observed that the microstructure and mechanical properties of the biocomposite scaffolds were not affected to a great extent by the presence of aminated CNCs. At a compressive strain of 70%, the compressive strengths of PVA/OVA (porosity: ~85%) (a), PVA–CNCs/OVA (porosity: ~87.4%) (b), and PVA–CNCs–NH2/OVA (porosity: ~87.7%) (c) were 0.08 MPa, 0.21 MPa and 0.26 MPa, respectively.