Abstract

The purpose of this project is to combine oxidized cellulose nanofibrils (toCNFs) and various β-cyclodextrins (β-CDs) to design improved materials for biomedical applications. The combination of toCNFs and β-CDs, although promising, faces some challenges, notably characterization of this association. Thus, this project aims at developing innovative materials combining toCNF and various β-CD derivatives, with the objective of characterizing the adsorption phenomena and improving drug release of poorly-water soluble active principal ingredient (API) and consequently prolonging antimicrobial properties. First, the production of toCNF/β-CD materials was reported, with an investigation on the impact of various process parameters on water sorption and mechanical properties. The adsorption of β-CDs was characterized via different experimental tools, and it was shown that β-CD derivatives adsorb up to 10 times more onto toCNF than β-CD. The formation of an inclusion complex between a model API and the various β-CDs was thoroughly characterized. Finally, the functionalization of toCNF with β-CDs showed improvement of the antimicrobial properties of films with increased efficiency for carboxymethylated-β-CD. The results of this project contribute to the knowledge on interaction of cyclodextrin and nanocellulosic materials and are a step-towards their efficient application in biomedical field as well as other applications such as depollution.

Directors: Alain Dufresne (Dir. de thèse, LGP2), Julien Bras (Co-dir de thèse, LGP2), Kristin Syverud (Co-encadrante, NTNU/RISE PFI, Norway), Ellinor B. Heggset (co-encadrante,RISE PFI, Norway).

Jury: Bernard Cathala (Dir. de recherche,INRAE Nantes), Naceur Belgacem (Pr., Grenoble INP), Carmen Freire (Senior researcher, U.Aveiro), Sophie Fourmentin (Pr., ULCO)