Characterization of native cellulose/poly(ethylene glycol) films

Water molecules retained in native cellulose gels obtained from Acetobacter xylinum (AX) were displaced by poly(ethylene glycol)s (PEG) of different m olecular weight. The so obtained native cellulose/PEG material, characteriz ed in film form by differential scanning calorimetry, dynamic mechanical th ermal analysis and wide angle X-ray scattering, revealed that strong intera ctions occur between PEG and cellulose and that the polymer mixture is in t he rubbery state at ambient temperature. Moreover, it could be dyed in supe rcritical carbon dioxide by disperse dyes, thus exhibiting typically lipoph ilic properties and suitability to be employed as a biocompatible support f or lipophilic active species.