Green procedure for grafting polypeptide onto cellulose nanofibers
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: • Choline chloride and formic acid DES enable polypeptide grafting on CNFs. • The process enhances CNF surface properties and chemical functionalities. • Simplified, sustainable method advances green chemistry and materials science. This study presents an innovative green method to graft polypeptide onto cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) by polymerizing N-carboxyanhydrides (NCA) using CNFs’ hydroxyl groups present on the surface as initiators. The grafting of NCA onto CNFs was performed using choline chloride: formic acid (ChCl: FA) deep eutectic solvent (DES) as reaction medium. In recent years, DESs show great potential to replace traditional solvents in chemical reactions. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), cross-polarization magic angle spinning (CP/MAS) 13 C- nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), elemental analysis, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) confirmed the grafting of surfacic CNFs’ hydroxyl groups. The grafting rate gradually increase as function of the reaction time to reach 12.2% after three hours of reaction. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that modified nanofibers are enveloped and covered polypeptides, resulting in an amorphous, wrinkled rough surface, and folded morphologies. Coupling SEM analysis with energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) of the nanofiber’s surface revealed the presence of nitrogen, which confirms the grafting and the growing of NCA onto CNF. Finally, nanopapers prepared from NCA-grafted CNFs exhibit superior hydrophobicity and mechanical performance as compared to their unmodified analog.
Source: Chemical Engineering Journal
Language: English
Subfield: Biomaterials
Field: Materials Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $4,830
OpenAlex ID: W4407217376