| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1383010 | Carbohydrate Polymers | 2016 | 9 Pages |
•Physical and chemical cross-linked cellulose hydrogels and cryogels have been obtained.•NMR, XRD and DSC studies confirmed cellulose cross-linking.•Gel and cryogels swelling depends on cellulose and ECH concentration in solution.•The potential of cellulose cryogels for controlled drug release was evidenced.
Porous cellulose matrices were prepared via cellulose dissolution in 8 wt% NaOH-water, physical gelation and chemical cross-linking with epichlorohydrin (ECH), coagulation in water and lyophilisation. Cellulose and cross-linker concentration were varied. The behaviour of gels upon coagulation and the swelling of cryogels in water were analysed. An anomalous high swelling at cross-linker concentration around stoichiometric molar ratio with cellulose was observed. Cellulose cryogel morphology, crystallinity and density were studied. The influence of chemical cross-linking on cellulose swelling was explained by suggesting that ECH acts as a spacer preventing cellulose chains tight packing during coagulation. Cellulose was loaded with a model drug, procaine hydrochloride, and the kinetics of its release was investigated.
