Effect of modified cellulose nanocrystals on microstructural and mechanical properties of polyvinyl alcohol/ovalbumin biocomposite scaffolds

In order to improve the functional compatibility and mechanical performance of biocomposite scaffolds, two different biocomposite scaffolds based on ovalbumin (OVA)/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) reinforced with unmodified and aminated cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) cross-linked with glutaraldehyde (GA) were fabricated by a freeze drying process. It was observed that the microstructure and mechanical properties of the biocomposite scaffolds were not affected to a great extent by the presence of aminated CNCs. At a compressive strain of 70%, the compressive strengths of PVA/OVA (porosity: similar to 85%) (a), PVA-CNCs/OVA (porosity: similar to 87.4%) (b), and PVA-CNCs-NH2/OVA (porosity: similar to 87.7%) (c) were 0.08 MPa, 0.21 MPa and 0.26 MPa, respectively. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.