3D printing of fully cellulose-based hydrogels by digital light processing

We report on the development of natural-based, composite hydrogel inks for Digital Light Processing (DLP) 3D printing, composed entirely of cellulose-based-materials. DLP, which enables the production of complex constructs by photopolymerization, is already considered an environmentally friendly production method but it is still based on fossil chemicals, which may be a limit in the future. On the contrary, in view of a more environmental-friendly production, the development of natural inks will represent a further step to its wide-scale adoption. Here acrylated-carboxymethyl cellulose (mCMC) hydrogels are reinforced by the addition of biowastes-sourced cellulose nanocrystals (NCs) derived from oil palm empty fruit bunch, both pristine and functionalized, to produce hybrid polymeric networks.