Non-electrostatic building of biomimetic cellulose-xyloglucan multilayers

Langmuir. 2009 Apr 7;25(7):3920-3. doi: 10.1021/la802801q.

Abstract

Layer-by-layer assembly was used to build thin films, consisting of multiple layers alternating cellulose nanocrystals and xyloglucan, benefiting from the strong non-electrostatic cellulose-xyloglucan interaction. Data from atomic force microscopy and neutron reflectivity showed that these well-defined films exhibited a thickness increasing linearly with the number of layers, without increase in surface roughness. These "green" nanocomposite films, reminiscent of plant cell wall, are composed of a regular stack of single layers of cellulose nanocrystals separated by very thin xyloglucan spacers. Such architecture differs from the one formed by cellulose/polycations multilayers, where the cellulose phase itself consists of a double layer.

MeSH terms

  • Biomimetic Materials / chemistry*
  • Cellulose / chemistry*
  • Glucans / chemistry*
  • Microscopy, Atomic Force
  • Nanocomposites / chemistry
  • Polysaccharides / chemistry
  • Static Electricity
  • Xylans / chemistry*

Substances

  • Glucans
  • Polysaccharides
  • Xylans
  • xyloglucan
  • hemicellulose
  • Cellulose