Abstract

New chemical cellulose powder (94% ${\alpha}$-cellulose content) was made from Styela Clava Tunics (SCT, Midduck) which were purified in the following order: hydrochloride, sodium hydroxide, hydrogen peroxide treatment and mechanical grinding. SCT cellulose films were prepared from the SCT solution in which N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide(NMMO)/ water (87/13 wt%) was used as a solvent by casting it on a glass plate. The structure and properties of new chemical cellulose films were compared with those of Wood Pulp Cellulose(WPC) films in terms of IR-spetra, X-ray, and tensile strength. The 6 wt% cellulose contents were adequate for strong and thin films because NMMO/$H_{2}O$ completely dissolved SCT at 110-120$^{\circ}C$. SCT film exhibited 3.6 times higher water adsorption capacity than WPC film. To examine the applicability of SCT film as a wound healing product, a histological study was carried out, in which we observed changes in the tissues of rats for two weeks after implantation. As a result, no signs of flare, dropsy and inflammation were detected.

Keywords

• Cellulose;
• Styela clava tunics;
• Ir-spectra;
• x-ray;
• Biomaterial;
• Inflammation