Controlling nanomaterial structure through chemical crosslinking and pressurized gas expanded technology

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Ceapro is a biotechnology company which uses pressurized gas expanded technology (PGX), a new state-of-the-art drying method, to process biopolymers and nanoparticles for use in cosmeceutical, nutraceutical, and therapeutic products. PGX can be used to dry, purify, extract and encapsulate materials into particle and fibrous structures but Ceapro is limited by the structures and types of materials that can be produced. This work aims to extend the potential morphologies from PGX to include crosslinked structures that are flexible foam-like materials. These foams will not dissolve or re-disperse in liquid and may be used, in the dry state, as wound dressing, scaffolds, filters, sponges, insulation, or sensors and, in the wet-state, as gels and thickeners. We will modify cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) and polysaccharides to have crosslinkable surface functionalities such that when particles/polymers with complementary functionality come in contact, a covalent crosslink is formed. To produce new crosslinked morphologies using PGX, we will investigate three categories of materials: (i) CNC-CNC, (ii) CNC-polymer, and (iii) polymer-polymer. We will vary the crosslink density and optimize the PGX processing conditions (feed concentration, feed rate, pressure, temperature) to produce foams with tailorable mechanical properties, porosity and functionality.