Preparation of high oil absorption microfiber cryogels by mechanical method

Nanocellulose has functionalities suitable for efficient sensor transducer surface design including crystallinity, biocompatible and high specific surface area. Here we explore two forms of nanocellulose as transducer surfaces to enable colorimetric detection of human neutrophil elastase (HNE), and a wide range of inflammatory diseases. A deep eutectic solvent (DES) was utilized to mediate formation of cotton cellulose nanocrystals (DCNCs) employed to prepare a peptide-cellulose conjugate as a protease sensor of HNE. The tetrapeptide-cellulose analog on DCNC is contrasted with an analogous derivative of TEMPO-oxidized wood cellulose nanofibrils (WCNEs). DCNCs showed greater degree of substitution of HNE tetrapeptide and sensitivity to the elastase than WCNFs, despite the smaller surface area and pore sizes.