The cells, during  secondary cell wall synthesis, extrude cellulose chains in well-established patterns, decorate them with hemicelluloses and then, when apoptosis occurs, triggers lignification and crosslinking of the cell wall. Bottom up biofabrication of wood based materials can be carried out by using 3D printing. Nanofibrillated or ionic liquid dissolved celluloses have been previously evaluated as bioinks in layer-by-layer fabrication. Consolidation of 3D shapes was achieved by ionic crosslinking with alginate or by coagulation in a non-solvent. In this work we focus on exploiting the gelling properties of crosslinkable hemicelluloses, as “inks” components for 3D printing.  We have functionalized spruce arabinoglucuronoxylan (AGX) with acryloyl chloride-HEMA-AIBN and HEMA-Im, and studied HEMA polymerization/crosslinking with UV radiation. Xylan gels were characterized by rheology and tested under printing conditions. Mixtures with nanofibrilated cellulose gels, xylan bearing vinyl groups and HEMA were tested as “inks” components in 3D printing.<br/>

Gelation of 3D printed nanocellulose induced by crosslinked hemicellulose

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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