Formation of nematic ordered cellulose and chitin

We proposed in a previous paper a unique form of β-glucan association, nematic ordered cellulose (NOC) that is molecularly ordered, yet non-crystalline. NOC has unique characteristics; in particular, its surface properties provide with a function of tracks or scaffolds for regulated movements and fiber-production of Acetobacter xylinum [Kondo et al. 2002. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 99: 14008–14013]. In order to extend the usage of this NOC film as a functional template, the present article attempts to clarify how β-glucan association is initiated and established by uniaxial stretching of water swollen cellulose gel films. Wide angle X-ray diffraction, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy were employed to exhibit molecular behavior of the ordering at various scales. Then, the preparative method for NOC was applied to the other carbohydrate polymers such as α-chitin and cellulose/α-chitin blends, leading to nematic ordered states as well as cellulose. However, the method did not necessarily provide the typical structure like NOC at the molecular scale. Instead, it yielded a variety of hierarchical nematic ordered states at various scales, which allows development of new artificial ordered sheet structures.