Tuning the Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose Cryogels with the Aid of Surfactants

Author(s)

Dezotti, Rafael S. ^[1] ; Furtado, Laise M. ^[1] ; Yee, Marcio ^{[2, 3]} ; Valera, Ticiane S. ^[3] ; Balaji, Krishnasamy ^[4] ; Ando, Romulo A. ^[1] ; Petri, Denise F. S. ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Chem, Fundamental Chem Dept, Lineu Prestes 748, BR-05508000 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Marine Sci, Carvalho Mendonca 144, BR-11070100 Santos, SP - Brazil

^[3] Univ Sao Paulo, Met & Mat Engn Dept, Polytech Sch, Mello Moraes 2463, BR-05508030 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[4] PSG Inst Technol & Appl Res, Polymer Engn Lab, Coimbatore 641062, Tamil Nadu - India

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: GELS; v. 7, n. 3 SEP 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

The mechanical and thermal properties of cryogels depend on their microstructure. In this study, the microstructure of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) cryogels was modified by the addition of ionic (bis (2-ethylhexyl) sodium sulfosuccinate, AOT) and non-ionic (Kolliphor(R) EL) surfactants to the precursor hydrogels (30 g/L). The surfactant concentrations varied from 0.2 mmol/L to 3.0 mmol/L. All of the hydrogels presented viscous behavior (G `' > G `). Hydrogels containing AOT (c > 2.0 mmol/L) led to cryogels with the lowest compressive modulus (13 +/- 1 kPa), the highest specific surface area (2.31 m(2)/g), the lowest thermal conductivity (0.030 W/(m.degrees C)), and less hygroscopic walls. The addition of Kolliphor(R) EL to the hydrogels yielded the stiffest cryogels (320 +/- 32 kPa) with the lowest specific surface area (1.11 m(2)/g) and the highest thermal conductivity (0.055 W/(m.degrees C)). Density functional theory (DFT) calculations indicated an interaction energy of -31.8 kcal/mol due to the interaction between the AOT sulfonate group and the HPMC hydroxyl group and the hydrogen bond between the AOT carbonyl group and the HPMC hydroxyl group. The interaction energy between the HPMC hydroxyl group and the Kolliphor(R) EL hydroxyl group was calculated as -7.91 kcal/mol. A model was proposed to describe the effects of AOT or Kolliphor(R) EL on the microstructures and the mechanical/thermal properties of HPMC cryogels. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 18/13492-2 - Synthetic and natural scaffolds applied to regenerative medicine
• Grantee: Luiz Henrique Catalani
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants