The NORwegian nanoCELlulose Technology Platform

Development in materials science demands an ever-increasing control of material structure, chemistry and interactions. The main goal of this project is to develop and utilize the material nanocellulose for the industrial, biomedical and pharmaceutical fields. Nanocellulose implies nanocrystalline cellulose and nanofibrillated (or microfibrillated) cellulose, and is a high value product obtained from lignocellulosic biomass (wood, forestry- and agricultural wastes).

The vision of the NORCEL project is to develop an internationally leading research platform for production, modification and control of morphology, chemistry and three-dimensional structures of nanocellulose at a fundamental level. Further, the project will explore this generic knowledge in the following three application areas

1) Use of nanocellulose in paper and packaging,
2)Applications of nanocellulose within petroleum industry and
3) Use of nanocellulose as scaffold in bone tissue engineering. 

Interactions between nanocellulose and other material components and the possibility of obtaining applications using this biobased nanomaterial in novel material concepts (addressing the green economy of the future) are important aspects in this project.

Meetings:

19^th of June, 2018; Project meeting, UoB, Bergen

15^th of November, 2017: Project meeting, RISE PFI, Trondheim

14. June, 2017; Project meeting, UiS, Stavanger

18. October, 2016: Project meeting, PFI, Trondheim

23.-24. May, 2016: Project meeting, PFI, Trondheim

5. November, 2015: Project meeting, PFI, Trondheim

20. May, 2015: Project meeting, PFI, Trondheim

27. October, 2014: Project meeting, PFI, Trondheim

13 June, 2014: Project meeting, teleconference.

27 Nov, 2013: Kick-off meeting, PFI, Trondheim

Peer reviewed articles

The carbohydrate-binding module and linker of a modular lytic polysaccharide monooxygenase promote localized cellulose oxidation. Courtade, Forsberg, Heggset, Eijsink and Aachmann. Published in JBS (2018) doi: 10.1074/jbc.RA118.004269

Investigation of a new application for cellulose nanocrystals – A study of the enhanced oil recovery potential from sandstone by use of a green additive. Silje Nedland Molnes, Aleksandr Mamonov, Kristofer G. Paso, Skule Strand, Kristin Syverud. Published in Cellulose, (2018) 25: 2289–2301

Mechanical Properties of Composite Hydrogels of Alginate and Cellulose Nanofibrils. Aarstad, Heggset, Pedersen, Bjørnøy, Syverud and Strand. Published in: Polymers (2017), 9, 378.

The effects of pH, time and temperature on the stability and viscosity of cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) dispersions – Implications for use in enhanced oil recovery. Silje Nedland Molnes, Kristofer G. Paso, Skule Strand, Kristin Syverud. Published in: Cellulose (2017), 24 (10), pp 4479–4491

Coatability of cellulose nanofibril suspensions: role of rheology and water retention. Kumar, Vinay; Ottesen, Vegar; Syverud, Kristin; Gregersen, Øyvind Weiby; Toivakka, Martti.
Published in: Bioresources (2017), 12 (4), pp 7656-76.

Viability and properties of roll-to-roll coating of cellulose nanofibrils on recycled paperboard. Published in Nordic Pulp & Paper Research Journal (2017) 32 (2).

Cytocompatibility of Wood-Derived Cellulose Nanofibril Hydrogels with Different Surface Chemistry. Published in: Biomacromolecules (2017), 18 (4), pp 1238–1248.

Hemicellulose-reinforced nanocellulose hydrogels for wound healing application. Published in: Cellulose (2016) 23: 3129.

Novel pretreatment pathways for dissolution of lignocellulosic biomass based on ionic liquid and low temperature alkaline treatment. Published in: Biomass and Bioenergy (2016), 93 pp. 194-200.

Mixing of Cellulose Nanofibrils and Individual Furnish Components: Effects on Paper Properties and Structure. Published in: Nordic pulp and Paper Research Journal (2016), 31:3 pp 441-447.

Sandstone injectivity and salt stability of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) Dispersions – Premises for use of CNC in enhanced oil recovery. Industrial Crops and Products, 2016

Substitution of nanoclay in high gas barrier films of cellulose nanofibrils with cellulose nanocrystals and thermal treatment. Cellulose DOI 10.1007/s10570-015-0547-9.

Controlling the Elastic Modulus of Cellulose Nanofibril Hydrogels – scaffolds with potential in tissue engineering. Cellulose.

Cellulose nanofibrils: Challenges and possibilities as a paper additive or coating material – A review. Nordic Pulp and Paper Research Journal

PhD thesis

Ahmad Rashad: Wood-Based Nanocellulose Hydrogels for Tissue Engineering Applications, UoB, June 2018

Vegar Ottesen: Cellulose Nanofibrils as Paper Additive and Coating Material: Properties, Distribution and Interaction Effects, NTNU, thesis no. 115, April 2018.

Silje Molnes: Evaluation of Cellulose Nanocrystals as a Green “Smart Water” Additive in Enhanced Oil Recovery from Sandstone Reservoirs, UiS, thesis no. 348, June 2017.

Book chapter
Tissue engineering using plant derived cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) as scaffold material. Kristin Syverud. In «Nano-celluloses, their Preparation, Properties, and Applications» edited by R. Atalla, A. Isogai, and U.Agarwal, ACS Books (2017)

Conferences

Ottesen, TEDx Trondheim «The Next Chapter», 221017, If Plastics are the Problem, What is the Solution?

The European Biomaterial conference (ESB2018), Maastricht, Netherlands, September 9 –13, 2018. Poster presentation: Elisabetta Campodoni, Samuele M. Dozio, Ellinor B. Heggset, Alessandra Dellaquila, Silvia Panseri, Kristin Syverud, Anna Tampieri, Monica Sandri: Hybrid polymer composite made from gelatin and cellulose nanofibrils: a nanobiomaterial with tunable degradability and mechanical performances

Skog og tre konferansen 2018, Oslo, Norway, May 31., 2018. Oral presentation: Kristin Syverud. The sky is the limit – tre som råstoff til nye kroppsdeler

Aalto University, Finland, May 24, 2018: Oral presentation: Kristin Syverud: From inside the body to the bottom of the sea

The plastic whale heritage, Sotra, Norway, April 25.-26., 2018. Oral presentation: Kristin Syverud. Alternatives to fossil derived plastics – Nanocellulose

The 255th American Chemical Society (ACS) National Meeting & Exposition, New Orleans, LA, March 18-22, 2018. Oral presentation: Ellinor B. Heggset, Kristin Syverud, Ahmad Rashad and Kamal Mustafa: Cellulose nanofibril hydrogels as scaffolds for tissue engineering.

European Forest Institute media workshop, December 13th, 2017, Helsinki, Finland. Oral presentation: Kristin Syverud: Building human bodyparts from wood: innovative use of nanocellulose

European Forest Institute Annual Conference, 5 October 2017, Oslo, Norway.
Oral presentation: Kristin Syverud: Building human body parts from wood: innovative use of nanocellulose.

CED-IADR/NOF Oral Health Research Congress, 21-23. September 2017, Vienna, Switzerland. Poster presentation: Elsebahy, Ahmad Rashad Saad Mohamed, Ojansivu, Miina, Heggset, Ellinor B., Ibrahim, Mohamed, Syverud, Kristin and Mustafa, Kamal Babikeir Eln: Cytocompatibility and Inflammatory Response of Periodontal Ligament Fibroblasts to Cellulose Nanofibril Scaffolds with Different Surface Characteristics

EUROMAT 2017, Thessaloniki, Greece, 17-22. September 2017. Oral presentation: Syverud, Kristin, Heggset, Ellinor B., Rashad, Ahmad and Mustafa, Kamal Babikeir Eln: Cellulose nanofibrils as scaffolds for tissue engineering

RISE Forskarforum 2017, Stockholm, Sweden, 8. September 2017. Oral presentation: Ellinor B. Heggset and Kristin Syverud. Nanocellulose i helseapplikasjoner.

Life Cycle Management Conference, Luxembourg, 4-6. September 2017. Poster presentation: Valente, Clara, Baxter, John, Modahl, Ingunn Saur and Brekke, Andreas: Integrated LCA approach applied to nanomaterials

3rd Annual meeting Bergen Stem cell consortium, Bergen, Norway, 4-5 September 2017. Oral presentation: Elsebahy, Ahmad Rashad Saad Mohamed, Ahmed, Samih, Berstad, Kaia, Syverud, Kristin and Mustafa, Kamal Babikeir Eln: Bone Marrow mesenchymal stem cells cultured on 3D printed PCL scaffold Modified with Cellulose Nano fibrils.

Focused Ion Beam Tomography as a Means for Characterization of CNF in a Paper Matrix. Ottesen, Vegar; Roede, Erik Dobloug; Syverud, Kristin; Gregersen, Øyvind Weiby
Fundamental Research Symposium 2017, 3-8. September 2017, Oxford, UK. Accepted for presentation, accepted for publication after peer review process.

European Chapter Meeting of the Tissue engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society 2017, Davos, Italy, 23-30 June 2017. Oral presentation: Elsebahy, Ahmad Rashad Saad Mohamed, Syverud, Kristin, Heggset, Ellinor B. and Mustafa, Kamal Babikeir Eln: Injectable Hydrogels of Cellulose Nanofibrils Crosslinked with Cell culture Medium for Tissue Engineering.

Social hotspots of nanocellulose production. Valente and Brekke. Italian LCA Network Conference, 22-23 June 2017, Siena, Italy. Accepted for presentation, and conference paper.

International Conference on Nanotechnology for Renewable Materials, Montreal, Canada, 5-8 June 2017. Oral presentation: Syverud, K., Rashad, A., Mustafa, K., Heggset, E. Oral presentation: CNF hydrogels for tissue engineering. Interactions between cells and CNF with two different surface chemistries.

Technologies for the fabrication and characterization of 3D scaffolds for tissue engineering, NoRoTech, Bucharest, Romania, June 8-9, 2017. Oral presentation Ahmad Rashad. Bio-inspired hydrogels for tissue engineering applications.

253rd American Chemical Society (ACS) National Meeting & Exposition, San Francisco, CA, April 2-6, 2017. Oral presentation: Ellinor B. Heggset and Kristin Syverud. Nanocellulose composite hydrogels – Tailoring of mechanical properties of tissue scaffolds.

Grey Goo Symposium, Trondheim, Norway, 7. February, 2017. Oral presentation: Ellinor B. Heggset and Kristin Syverud. Nanocellulose – Possibilities in tissue engineering.

6th Recent advances in cellulose nanotechnology research seminar, 19.-20. October 2016, Trondheim, Norway. Oral presentation: Kristin Syverud: Nanocellulose research at PFI – from subsea applications to tissue engineering.

6th Recent advances in cellulose nanotechnology research seminar, 19.-20. October 2016, Trondheim, Norway. Oral presentation: Ellinor Heggset: Combining biopolymers – the key to tailor the mechanical properties of tissue scaffolds

6th Recent advances in cellulose nanotechnology research seminar, 19.-20. October 2016, Trondheim, Norway. Oral presentation: Vegar Ottesen: Effects of cellulose nanofibril premixing strategies for papermaking.

6th Recent advances in cellulose nanotechnology research seminar, 19.-20. October 2016, Trondheim, Norway. Oral presentation: Silje Molnes: Injectivity of CNC in sandstone – a premise for their use in EOR.

6th Recent advances in cellulose nanotechnology research seminar, 19.-20. October 2016, Trondheim, Norway. Oral presentation: Ahmad Rashad: Evaluation of cell response to cellulose nanofibril hydrogels with different surface chemistry.

6th Recent advances in cellulose nanotechnology research seminar, 19.-20. October 2016, Trondheim, Norway. Poster presentation: Chris Petrich, Nga P. Dang, Megan E. O’Sadnick, Ellinor Heggset and Kristin Syverud: Pore structure and properties of TEMPO-oxidized CNF scaffolds produced by freeze-drying.

6th Recent advances in cellulose nanotechnology research seminar, 19.-20. October 2016, Trondheim, Norway. Poster presentation: Vegar Ottesen, Erik Dobloug Roede, Øyvind Gregersen and Kristin Syverud: Focused Ion Beam Tomography in the 3D Study of Nano-Cellulose in Paper.

6th Recent advances in cellulose nanotechnology research seminar, 19.-20. October 2016, Trondheim, Norway. Poster presentation: Ahmad Rashad, Ellinor Bævre Heggset, Kristin Syverud, Kamal Mustafa: Effect of Surface Properties of Cellulose Nanofibril Scaffolds on Cell Response

13th National Stem Cell Networking Conference, Oslo, Norway, September 14-15, 2016. Oral presentation: Ahmad Rashad, Ellinor Bævre Heggset, Kristin Syverud, Kamal Mustafa: Evaluation of In vitro cytotoxicity of 3D Nanocellulose for Tissue Engineering Applications.

The 2nd Annual Meeting Bergen Stem Cell Consortium, Bergen, Norway, September 5-6, 2016. Poster presentation: Ahmad Rashad, Ellinor Bævre Heggset, Kristin Syverud, Kamal Mustafa: Effect of Surface Properties of Cellulose Nanofibril Scaffolds on Cell Response.

The 4th Nordic Young Scientist Conference in Odontology (NYSCO), Tuusula, Finland, August 23-26, 2016. Poster presentation: Ahmad Rashad, Ellinor Bævre Heggset, Kristin Syverud, Kamal Mustafa: Cellulose Nano Fibrils Hydrogels for Tissue Engineering Applications NB! Award for best abstract in the conference.

Congresso Biomateriali SIB, Ischia, Italy, July 13-15, 2016. Oral presentation: Campodoni E., Ramìrez-Rodriguez GB., Elsabahy ARSM., Heggset EB., Mustafa K., Syverud K., Tampieri A., Sandri M.: Gelatin/Nanocellulose Polymeric Blends to Develop 3D Scaffolds for Tissue Regeneration NB! Award for best oral presentation.
National Young Researchers´ Forum on Material Science and Technology, Ischia, Italy,

July 11-13. 2016. Poster presentation: Campodoni E., Ramìrez-Rodriguez GB., Elsabahy ARSM., Heggset EB., Mustafa K., Syverud K., Tampieri A., Sandri M.; Gelatin/Nanocellulose Polymeric Blends to Develop 3D Scaffolds for Tissue Regeneration.

94th General Session and Exhibition of the AIDR, Seoul, Republic of Korea, June 22-25. 2016. Oral presentation: Ahmad Rashad, Ellinor Bævre Heggset, Kristin Syverud, Kamal Mustafa: A Novel Composite Scaffold for Bone Tissue Engineering.

Nordisk treforedlingssymposium, Trondheim, Norway, 10.-11. May 2016. Økt oljeutvinning ved hjelp av nanocellulose. Oral presentation: Ellinor Heggset.

2016 International Conference on Nanotechnology for Renewable Materials, Grenoble, France, 13.-16. June 2016. Oral presentation: Ellinor Heggset, Olav Aarstad, Ina S. Pedersen, Berit L. Strand and Kristin Syverud: Nanocellulose enhances the gelling properties of alginate.

2016 International Conference on Nanotechnology for Renewable Materials, Grenoble, France, 13.-16. June 2016. Oral presentation: Kristin Syverud, Ahmad Rashad, Kamal Mustafa: The potential of cellulose nanofibrils produced by TEMPO mediated oxidation and carboxymethylation in tissue engineering

2016 International Conference on Nanotechnology for Renewable Materials, Grenoble, France, 13.-16. June 2016. Oral presentation: Chunlin Xu, Jun Liu, Xiaoju Wang, Fang Cheng, Gary Chinga-Carrasco, Kristin Syverud, Stefan Willför: Nanocellulose-based scaffolds with tunable structures to support 3D cell culture

2016 International Conference on Nanotechnology for Renewable Materials, Grenoble, France, 13.-16. June 2016. Poster presentation: Silje Molnes, Kristofer Paso, Skule Strand and Kristin Syverud: Evaluation of Cellulose Nanocrystals as a New Additive for Enhanced Oil Recovery

2016 International Conference on Nanotechnology for Renewable Materials, Grenoble, France, 13.-16. June 2016. Poster presentation: Vegar Ottesen, Kristin Syverud, Øyvind W. Gregersen: Effects of Cellulose Nanofibril Premixing Strategies for Paper Making

Nordisk treforedlingssymposium, Trondheim, Norway, 10.-11. May 2016. Bør nanocellulose bindes til en bestemt komponent i en furnish? Oral presentation: Vegar Ottesen.

Nordisk treforedlingssymposium, Trondheim, Norway, 10.-11. May 2016. Nanocellulose – et materiale med uante muligheter. Oral presentation: Kristin Syverud.

251st ACS National Meeting & Exposition, March 13.-17., 2016, San Diego. Potential of cellulose nanofibrils in tissue engineering. Oral presentation: Kristin Syverud (invited speaker), Ahmad Rashad, Kamal Mustafa

FRIPRO-samling for unge forskertalenter 5. april, 2016, Forskningsrådet, Oslo. Kristin Syverud: Cellulose: Fra papirstruktur og trykkvalitet til beinstruktur og 3D-trykk.

4th EPNOE international polysaccharide conference, 19-22 October 2015, Warsaw, Poland. Composite hydrogels with cellulose nanofibrils.

Cellulose Materials Doctoral Students Summer Conference 2015, August 26-28., Autrans, France. Nanocellulose in Paper and Packaging – Interaction Effects. Vegar Ottesen, Øyvind Gregersen, Kristin Syverud.

COST Action FP1105: WoodCellNet sixth workshop, May 26 -27, San Sebastian, Spain. Composite hydrogels with cellulose nanofibrils. Poster: Ellinor B. Heggset, Olav Aarstad, Ina S. Pedersen, Berit L. Strand and Kristin Syverud.

Næringslivsdagen 2015: Rik på nysgjerrighet, April 21., 2015, Oslo, Norway. Ikke bare et tre: Nanocellulose innerst i kroppen og på havets bunn. Oral presentation:  Kristin Syverud.

249th ACS National Meeting & Exposition, March 22.-26, 2015, Denver, CO. Sandstone Core-Flooding using Low-Saline Water and Crystalline Nanocellulose. Poster presentation. Silje N. Molnes, Ivan P. Torrijos, Skule Strand and Kristin Syverud.

249th ACS National Meeting & Exposition, March 22.-26, 2015, Denver, CO. Controlling the elastic modulus of cellulose nanofibril hydrogels – scaffolds with potential in tissue engineering. Oral presentation. Kristin Syverud, Gary Chinga-Carrasco, Sigurd Pettersen, Kurt Draget.

COST Action FP1205. March 10-11, 2015, Iasi, Romania. Ten years of nanocellulose research at PFI. Oral presentation: Kristin Syverud.

COST Action FP1205. March 10-11, 2015, Iasi, Romania. Composite hydrogels with cellulose nanofibrils. Poster presentation: Ellinor B. Heggset et al.

Treforedlingsforum 2014. Norsk treforedling – nye trender, 18.-19. November 2014, Oslo, Norway. Presentasjon av prosjektet NORCEL (The Norwegian Nanocellulsoe Technology Platform). Oral presentation: Kristin Syverud.

The 6th Workshop on Cellulose, Regenerated Cellulose and Cellulose Derivatives, 11.-12. November 2014, Karlstad, Sweden. Controlling the elastic modulus of cellulose nanofibril hydrogels by crosslinking – a premise for their use in medical applications. Oral presentation: Kristin Syverud.

5th Recent advances in cellulose nanotechnology research seminar, 28.-29. October 2014, Trondheim, Norway. Composite hydrogels with cellulose nanofibrils. Oral presentation: Ellinor Heggset and Kristin Syverud.

5th Recent advances in cellulose nanotechnology research seminar, 28.-29. October 2014, Trondheim, Norway. Highlights from ten years of nanocellulose research at PFI. Oral presentation Kristin Syverud.

5th Recent advances in cellulose nanotechnology research seminar, 28.-29. October 2014, Trondheim, Norway. Interaction between nanocellulose and furnish components for paper strength and ductility. Oral presentation Øyvind W. Gregersen.

Nanocellulose Properties of Interest for Paper and Packaging

Nanocellulose in Paper and Packaging

Nanocellulose – a promising green flooding additive

Controlling mechanical and viscoelastic properties of hydrogels by crosslinking cellulose nanofibrils.

Controlling the elastic modulus of nano-engineered hydrogels by crosslinking cellulose nanofibrils.

Different pretreatment pathways for dissolution of lignocellulosic biomass.

Social Life Cycle Assessment: case studies from the textile to the nanotechnology sector.

Presentations

Midway evaluation, Department of Clinical Dentistry, University of Bergen, 11th March, 2016. Ahmad Rashad: Nanocellulose based scaffolds for bone tissue engineering.

Participation at EU-meetings
COST action: FP1205 Innovative applications of regenerated wood cellulose fibres (Kristin Syverud and Ellinor Heggset are MC members from Norway)

Electronic media

• Interview with Kristin Syverud, NRK P1 “Her og nå”, May 2018
• Interview with Kristin Syverud in BBC4, April 2018
• Interview with Kristin Syverud in Deutsche Welle, April 2018; Wood to build human body parts — and other bio-innovations.
• Den Norske tannlegeforenings tidende, 2018; 118: 526: Cellulose, stamceller og 3D-printing danner nytt kroppsvev,
• Forskning.no, september 2017: Trær kan bli byggeklosser for nye kroppsdeler. http://forskning.no/2017/09/traer-kan-bli-byggeklosser-nye-kroppsdeler/produsert-og-finansiert-av/norges-forskningsrad
• Gemini.no / Forskning.no / Teknisk Ukeblad: Supermateriale kan erstatte plast
• Kjemi 2017 ;Volum 4. Ottesen, Vegar; Syverud, Kristin; Gregersen, Øyvind Weiby.
  Nanocellulose – et steg nærmere fremtidens innpakking.
• Ottesen and Øyaas, 150317: Studio 2 «Vi er Plast Entusiaster!».
• Syverud and Ottesen, 210417: Newton «Prosjekt Plast»
• Ottesen, PhD Grand Prix 2017 – Winner presentation
• Teknisk ukeblad 01.17. Disse forskerne ønsker å printe et nytt bein til deg.
• NTNU Tech Zone, Did you know that the North Sea is full of half-eaten apples?
• regjeringen.no: Med råstoff fra skogen. Fra innerst i kroppen til havets bunn
• RCN, Dyrker nye kjever av trevirke
• Nationen, Nanoteknologi kan få fart på skogsindustrien.
• RCN, Skogindustrien håper på forskningen.
• Focus on: NorCell, The NORwegian nanoCELlulose Technology Platform
• RCN, Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials (NANO2021): Dypere inn i cellulosen.
• trenytt.no: Norsk treforedling får et nytt løft.
• skogindustri.no: PFI leder nytt nanocelluloseprosjekt.
• skogeier.no: Inn i cellulosen.

Newspapers

• 7. Okt 2017, Nationen, Av jord er du kommet, fra skog skal du bli
• 12 Nov 2013, Finansavisen: Nytt liv for tømmer.

Internal newsletters

• April 2014
• December 2013