Preparation and slow-release properties of nanocellulose composite hydrogels

Nanocellulose (CNF) was obtained from carrots using a combination of chemical treatment, mechanical milling, and ultrasonic treatment. Ultrafast preparation of maleic anhydride esterified nanocellulose was achieved by a hydrated hydrogen ion-driven dissociation, chemical cross-linking strategy based on a “one-pot” reaction method. Esterification modification with maleic anhydride reduced the crystallinity of nanocellulose and enhanced its thermal stability. High-strength drug-carrying hydrogels (MACNF/SA) with different drug loading capacities were prepared using cefixime (CFX) as a drug model and maleic anhydride esterified nanocellulose (MACNF) and sodium alginate (SA) as the main raw materials. The compressive strength of MACNF/SA hydrogels made from MACNF reached a maximum of 80.3 kPa when the mass ratio of CNF to MA was 2.5:12. Rheological property tests showed that the MACNF/SA hydrogels were pseudoplastic fluids with shear thinning. The drug release from the drug-carrying hydrogels followed non-Fickian diffusion.