SYNERGISTIC REINFORCEMENT: HARNESSING NANOCELLULOSE FOR ROBUST DOUBLE NETWORK HYDROGELS

“Petru Poni” Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, 41A, Ghica Voda Alley, 700487 Iași, Romania; RALUCA IOANA BARON; ANDREEA LAURA CHIBAC-SCUTARU; “Petru Poni” Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, 41A, Ghica Voda Alley, 700487 Iași, Romania; GABRIELA BILIUTA; “Petru Poni” Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, 41A, Ghica Voda Alley, 700487 Iași, Romania; SERGIU COSERI; “Petru Poni” Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, 41A, Ghica Voda Alley, 700487 Iași, Romania

doi:10.35812/cellulosechemtechnol.2025.59.62

journal article·2025-10-10Open access

SYNERGISTIC REINFORCEMENT: HARNESSING NANOCELLULOSE FOR ROBUST DOUBLE NETWORK HYDROGELS

“Petru Poni” Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, 41A, Ghica Voda Alley, 700487 Iași, Romania, RALUCA IOANA BARON, ANDREEA LAURA CHIBAC-SCUTARU, “Petru Poni” Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, 41A, Ghica Voda Alley, 700487 Iași, Romania, GABRIELA BILIUTA, “Petru Poni” Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, 41A, Ghica Voda Alley, 700487 Iași, Romania, SERGIU COSERI, “Petru Poni” Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, 41A, Ghica Voda Alley, 700487 Iași, Romania

Cellulose Chemistry and Technology· Volume 59· Issue 7-8

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Abstract

Double-network (DN) hydrogels combine two interpenetrating polymer networks with contrasting roles: a brittle, rigid primary network that dissipates energy through sacrificial bond breakage, and a flexible secondary network that maintains integrity. This architecture imparts exceptional toughness, stretchability, and crack resistance, making DN hydrogels valuable for biomedical, soft robotics, and energy-storage applications. Incorporating natural polymers, particularly nanostructured biopolymers like nanocellulose, enhances biocompatibility, sustainability, and tunability. This review outlines DN hydrogel design principles and nanocellulose structures, focusing on their role in polyacrylamide (PAM) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) matrices. Emphasis is placed on how cellulose nanofibers (CNF) improve mechanical strength, stability, and dynamic response through entanglement, hydrogen bonding, and nanoconfinement. The review concludes with challenges and future opportunities for nanocellulose-based DN hydrogels in multifunctional and sustainable material design.

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Research context

Polymers Nanomaterials Biomaterials Composites

OpenAlex topics: Advanced Cellulose Research Studies · Electrospun Nanofibers in Biomedical Applications · Advanced Materials and Mechanics

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

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