Turning plants into next-generation materials
As we move to a greener, more sustainable economy, new materials will be needed based on renewable sources. Cellulose and lignin nano and microparticles are promising targets since they are bio-based, made from plants. In the BioELCell project, which was funded by the European Research Council, researchers developed new methods to disassemble plant-based polymers, and reassemble them into functional materials that will support future bioeconomies in Europe and around the world. “BioELCell has established cellulose-based nanomaterials derived from plant resources, including biomass residues,” says Orlando Rojas, visiting professor at Aalto University and former BioELCell project coordinator.
Green nanofabrication
BioELCell developed new methods using green processing and nanofabrication to create a series of new plant-based materials. For the most part, this has involved the isolation, fractionation and size reduction of polymeric structures that are found in nature. “Essentially, a top-down deconstruction leads to building blocks that are then reassembled into new structures where functions inherent to the materials are used but in the form of engineered architectures – using a bottom-up synthesis process,” explains Rojas.
Creating a buzz with new nanomaterials
The BioELCell team created several new materials, which have attracted significant interest from wide audiences and media. These include filaments produced from nanocellulose, which have applications in the biomedical field as electroactive and structural materials. Other developments included upcycling agroforestry waste into filaments, films and 3D-printed materials. These can be widely used, including for CO2 adsorption, as building materials and even artificial reef structures. “BioELCell developed novel biofabrication methods to create complex geometries by guiding microorganisms (via aerotaxis) in a biofabrication process, which have been extended to biomedical implants,” adds Rojas. Architectures obtained from blueberry pruning waste were used in underwater conditions, including experiments on the coast of Cozumel in Mexico aimed at providing support for coral reef restoration.
Advancing nanomaterial science
“More recently, BioELCell engaged in scientific discoveries that have advanced important impacts in the area of nanomaterials based on chitin as well as lignin,” notes Rojas. The first is a biopolymer derived from ocean biomass (such as shrimp and crab residues), fungi and insects, while the second is an aromatic biomacromolecule found in plants. Significantly, BioELCell pioneered an aerosol system to produce dry lignin particles that have been used in emulsion stabilisation, carbon capture, photonic colours and bioinks, among others. The team have also used machine learning to engineer tannin microstructures. Moreover, using evaporation-induced self-assembly of cellulose nanocrystals, they created a water-based ‘superglue’ with performance comparable to state-of-the art microfabricated counterparts. “Many more advanced applications have been reported, for instance, in biomedical devices, sensors and energy materials,” says Rojas.
Forming new partnerships
Under the Boreal Alliance and as an offshoot of BioELCell, a strong connection has been established between Finland and Canada. Two organisations at Aalto University and the University of British Columbia are now working to promote the circular bioeconomy in the forest sector. A common goal of these organisations is to de-risk technologies to transform renewable resources into bioproducts, promoting knowledge translation and adding value to materials that are otherwise considered waste.
Keywords
BioELCell, lignin, nanocrystals, residues, nanomaterial, science, plants, sustainable economy, materials
