Mechanical Characterization of Nanocomposites to Identify Structure-Function Relationships of Plant Cell Wall Components

In nature, a complex network of cellulose and hemicellulose interacts to provide plant cell walls with their mechanical strength, flexibility, and light weight. However, there is still little known about the relationship between the cellulose-hemicellulose interactions and how that influences the resulting mechanical properties of plants. In this work, we will use films thinner than a single human hair, of cellulose nanocrystals (nanoparticles extracted from cellulose) and xyloglucan (a common hemicellulose) to model the plant cell wall and study how cellulose and hemicellulose interact in nature. The films are shrunk at high temperature, or by mechanical compression, to create wrinkles on the surface. The thickness and size of these wrinkles can be measured to quantitatively evaluate the film’s mecanical properties. This success of this project will provide insight into structure-function relationships in plant cell walls, which could lead to material advancements in biosensing, packaging, and tissue engineering applications.

Faculty Supervisor:

Jose Moran-Mirabal;Emily Cranston

Student:

Partner:

Institut national de la recherche agronomique (Paris)

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Education

University:

McMaster University

Program: