Functional Hybrid Nanostructures from Renewable Sources

许多产品配方，如食品、个人护理、化妆品和涂料使用聚合物、胶体和添加剂来改善其特性和性能。目前，这些原材料中有许多来自合成碳源（例如原油），因此对环境不友好。在材料设计和开发中使用来自林业部门的可再生资源，如纳米结晶纤维素（NCC），将有助于解决可持续发展问题。NCC具有5 ~ 20 nm的直径(D)和200 ~ 500 nm的长度(L)，由于其纳米尺寸和高宽高比（L/D），它代表了一类重要的各向异性纳米结构，具有有趣的物理性质。各向异性ncc -表面活性剂配合物的结构尚不清楚。因此，本研究计划将重点阐明NCC与两亲分子（如表面活性剂或药物）相互作用的机制，以及这些相互作用对NCC配合物的微观结构和表面性质的影响。我们试图检验和量化驱动力量（如疏水，静电，氢键等）负责复杂的形成和较大聚集体的胶体稳定性。总体目标是获得科学知识来描述各向异性纳米颗粒在两亲化合物存在下的行为。所获得的知识将使我们能够优化NCC的化学改性，以提高胶体稳定性和物理性能。NCC的利用将通过振兴加拿大的林业部门创造新的就业机会。它将减少温室气体（如二氧化碳，因为碳碳化合物是极好的碳汇）对环境的负面影响，并开辟一个新的高附加值纳米材料出口市场，这将为加拿大带来显著的经济效益。

Many product formulations, such as in food, personal care, cosmetics, and coatings utilize polymers, colloids and additives to improve their characteristics and performance. Currently, many of these raw materials are derived from synthetic carbon sources (e.g. crude oil), and hence are not environmentally friendly. The use of renewable resources derived from the forestry sector, such as Nano Crystalline Cellulose (NCC) in materials design and development will contribute to sustainable development solutions. NCC possesses a diameter (D) of 5-20 nm, and length (L) of 200-500 nm, and because of its nanosize and high aspect ratio (L/D), it represents an important class of anisotropic nanostructure that possesses interesting physical properties. The organization of anisotropic NCC-surfactant complexes is not well understood. Thus, the proposed research program will focus on elucidating the mechanisms of interaction between NCC and amphiphilic molecules (e.g. surfactants or drugs), and the impact these interactions have on the microstructure and surface properties of NCC complexes. We seek to examine and quantify the driving force(s) (e.g. hydrophobic, electrostatic, hydrogen bond etc) responsible for the complex formation and colloidal stability of larger aggregates. The overall objective is to acquire the scientific knowledge to describe the behaviour of anisotropic nanoparticles in the presence of amphiphilic compounds. The knowledge gained will allow us to optimise the chemical modification of NCC in order to enhance colloidal stability and physical properties. The utilization of NCC will create new jobs by rejuvenating Canada's forestry sector. It will reduce the negative environmental impact of greenhouse gases (e.g. carbon dioxide since NCCs are excellent carbon sinks), and open up a new export market of high value-added nanomaterials that will have significant economical benefits for Canada.