Structural and mechanical characterization of bacterial cellulose-polyethylene glycol diacrylate composite gels

Abstract

This study explores the structural and mechanical properties of bacterial cellulose-polyethylene glycol diacrylate (BC-PEGDA) composite gels. The molecular dynamics results obtained by solid-state ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance analyses suggested that BC and PEGDA molecules were incompatible as composite gels, though BC fibers and PEGDA interact with each other. The mechanical strength of the gels depended on the amount of PEGDA, becoming softer and more stretchable when a tensile force was applied, but for a large amount of PEGDA, they became brittle. The BC-3% and 5% PEGDA gels had similar viscoelastic behaviors as a BC gel, and these composite gels could stick to human skin. Since BC-PEGDA composite gels are composed of BC and PEGDA-both of which are biocompatible, it is thought that these composite gels also have excellent biocompatibility. Taken together, we concluded that the BC-3% and 5% PEGDA gels have great potential for use in medical and cosmetic fields.

Keywords: Bacterial cellulose; Biocompatibility; Polyethylene glycol diacrylate; Soft-material sheet; Tactile sensation.