Synthesis of a microhydrogel composite from cellulose nanowhiskers and starch for drug delivery.

This work describes the preparation of a microhydrogel composite from cellulose nanowhiskers (CNW) and starch in an ultrasound assisted-emulsion. CNW, which showed rod-like morphology, was obtained by acid hydrolysis of cane-based cellulose. The introduction of vinyl bonds to both CNW and starch enabled us to create the microhydrogel composite in which CNW played a role as a covalent cross-linker.