Biodegradable chitosan-cellulose coatings using green ionic liquid solvent
Novel natural coating dispersion combining chitosan nanoparticles with cellulose dissolved in glycine-choline ionic liquid. Offers biodegradable, non-toxic barrier coatings for paper and other substrates with tunable surface charge for compatibility with silicon oxide or aluminum coating layers.
Overview
This research proposes an environmentally friendly coating formulation composed of chitosan nanoparticles dispersed in a cellulose solution using glycine-choline, a non-toxic ionic liquid solvent. The resulting coatings are fully biodegradable and derived from naturally abundant biopolymers, offering a sustainable alternative to conventional synthetic coating systems. Glycerin can be incorporated as a plasticizer when flexibility is needed.
A key innovation is the ability to tune the surface charge of the dispersed nanoparticles. The positively charged chitosan nanoparticles enable compatibility with subsequent silicon oxide coating layers, while negatively charged chitosan-coated alginate nanoparticles can be substituted for compatibility with aluminum coatings. This versatility makes the platform suitable for a range of packaging and barrier applications.
Technical specifications
Composition and structure:
- Dispersed phase: chitosan nanoparticles with an average diameter of approximately 200 nm
- Continuous phase: cellulose dissolved in aqueous glycine-choline ionic liquid
- Optional plasticizer: glycerin for improved film flexibility
- Alternative nanoparticle option: chitosan-coated alginate nanoparticles for negatively charged variants
Key advantages:
- Both chitosan and cellulose are abundant, biodegradable, and well-established film-forming biopolymers
- Glycine-choline ionic liquid is environmentally friendly and non-toxic, representing a novel solvent system for cellulose
- Nanoparticle form of chitosan enables dispersion across a wide pH range, not limited to acidic conditions
- Tunable surface charge supports integration with diverse secondary coating layers
Technology readiness level
This technology is at an early research stage. The research team has prior experience synthesizing and characterizing chitosan nanoparticles and alginate-chitosan nanoparticles. Planned validation includes measuring viscosity of cellulose-ionic liquid solutions with varying chitosan nanoparticle concentrations, film casting with drying characterization, barrier property testing on paper substrates, and biodegradability confirmation with degradation product identification. The approach is ready for collaborative development to advance toward pilot-scale demonstration and application-specific optimization.
About Rutgers University
Rutgers University is a comprehensive public research university and New Jersey’s flagship, spanning campuses in New Brunswick–Piscataway, Newark, and Camden. For industry, it offers an integrated clinical and biomedical enterprise through its health system, a statewide extension network for field deployment, and campus-based incubators and pilot-scale facilities that enable prototyping and scale-up. Companies engage through sponsored research, shared core facilities, professional education, and flexible partnership models supported by corporate engagement teams. Research is supported by competitive federal funding from agencies such as NIH, NSF, DOE, and USDA. A dedicated technology transfer office manages IP, licensing, material transfer, and startup formation, providing clear pathways from lab discovery to market.
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