A new process for structuring cellulose nanocrystals to reproduce the structure of articular cartilage.

By combining the frontal ultrafiltration process and ultrasound propagation in a specially designed filtration cell, the researchers succeeded in obtaining an orthotropic organization characterized by three successive layers (horizontal, isotropic and vertical) mimicking the structure of articular cartilage. This work, published in Carbohydrate Polymers, is based on multiscale in situ characterization (SAXS, SALS, dichroism) and highlights the combined effect of transmembrane pressure and acoustic forces on the structure. It opens up new prospects for the design of structured biomimetic materials.