Surface Modification of Cellulose Nanowhisker through Ring Opening Polymerization of 2-Ethyl-2-Oxazoline

Natural polymers such as cellulose, starch, and chitin are a potential renewable source of nanoscale particles. They are naturally found in a semicrystalline state, and aqueous acidscan be employed to hydrolyze the amorphous region of the polymer. Consequentially, the crystalline sections found inthese naturally occurring polysaccharides are released, resulting in individual monocrystalline nanoparticles [1]. The obtained particles display different shapes depending on thepolysaccharide source: rigid rodlike particles for cellulose and chitin and platelets for starch [2]. The uses of polysaccharidenanoparticles are receiving a significant amount of attention because of the abundant availability, low cost, renewability, biocompatibility, biodegradability, and their nontoxicity. The latter properties make them excellent candidates for implant materials and drug carriers [3]. The work presented hereinvolves the chemical modification of cellulose nanowhisker with poly(ethyleneimine). Polyethylenimines (PEIs) are a class of cationic polymers which have been proven to be effective non viral vectors for gen delivery systems