Hydrogels of poly(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate) reinforced with nanocrystalline cellulose as candidates for biomaterials

Nanocomposite hydrogels were prepared based on crosslinked poly(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) as polymer matrix and nanocrystalline cellulose fibers (NCC) as nanomaterial filler. NCC fibers were obtained by acid hydrolysis of cotton and pristine PHEMA and PHEMA nanocomposite hydrogels were synthesized by photopolymerization. Physicochemical, thermal, and mechanical properties of pristine and nanocomposite hydrogels were evaluated by differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, mechanical tests by submersion compression, and measurements of swelling at equilibrium. Results showed that the compressive modulus of PHEMA hydrogels increased significantly with addition of only 1wt% of NCC fibers. Furthermore, PHEMA nanocomposite hydrogels exhibit higher water swelling degree and are thermally more stable than pristine PHEMA hydrogels. POLYM. COMPOS., 39:E278–E285, 2018. © 2016 Society of Plastics Engineers