CD BioSciences is committed to providing a variety of biophysical analysis techniques to provide technical support and scientific services for customers in their studies relating to the unraveling of cellulose unit cell parameters. Our professional instrumentation platform and powerful data analysis capabilities will contribute to the success of your project.

Introduction

Cellulose is a linear polymer composed of glucose. The presence of a large number of hydrogen bonds between and within glucose molecule chains allows them to aggregate to form multi-layered, aggregated state structures such as microfibrils, fibrils and fibers. Six interconvertible polycrystalline cellulose types have been identified, including cellulose I, II, III_I, III_II, IV_I and IV_II. The natural cellulose found in most plant cell walls is cellulose I, which has two isomorphs: the predominant cellulose Iα with a triclinic unit cell and a small amount of Iβ with a monoclinic unit cell.

The study of cellulose structure is usually analyzed at the holistic and ultrastructural levels. The detection of cellulose unit cell parameters is helpful for resolving the structure of crystalline cellulose, thus greatly improving the understanding of cellulose. In addition, the establishment of quantitative methods to characterize the supramolecular structure of natural cellulose is of great significance for the study of enzyme reaction kinetics, the synergy between enzyme components and the reaction mechanism in the process of material transformation.

Fig.1 Chain packing in unit cell of cellulose Iα (left) and cellulose Iβ (right). (Rongpipi, 2019)

Our Services

We focus on the development of a variety of biophysical techniques to identify two different forms prevalent in nature and to reveal cellulose unit cell parameters. Our services include, but are not limited to:

• Identification of allomorphs of natural cellulose.
  We offer a variety of analytical tools including NMR, sum frequency generation (SFG), IR and Raman spectroscopy to help customers obtain X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns and spectra of different forms of cellulose. These techniques present spectra with different characteristics for each allomorph and can be used to estimate the relative content of the cellulose form in the sample.
• Provide qualitative and quantitative information about the atoms in the sample and their chemical environment.
• Provide additional information on chemical function, molecular conformation and hydrogen bonding.
• Characterize the structural hierarchy of cellulose microfibrils in the cell wall.
• Determination of cellulose unit cell parameters.
  We provide high-resolution synchrotron X-ray, inelastic neutron scattering and other techniques to help customers determine the cellular parameters of two natural cellulose isomers, including the 3D structure and crystallographic form of molecules and evaluate the crystallinity.
• Provide accurate positions for carbon and oxygen atoms.
• Measure the precise lattice parameters and composition ratios of cellulose Iα and Iβ in natural cellulose from different sources.
• Explore the dynamics of hydrogen bonding networks.

Our Advantages

• Advanced biophysical analysis platform
• First class professional research team
• Customer-centered service
• Fast turnaround time

CD BioSciences has developed a variety of diffraction techniques to help customers detect unit cell parameters of cellulose. If you need relevant technical support, please contact us. We are happy to formulate the best solution for you and discuss the details of the experiment with you.

Reference

1. Rongpipi, S.; et al. Progress and opportunities in the characterization of cellulose–an important regulator of cell wall growth and mechanics. Frontiers in Plant Science. 2019: 1894.

• Measurement of Cellulose Crystallinity Index
• Morphological Characterization of Cellulose Microfibres
• Detection of Cellulose-Matrix Polysaccharides Interactions