The Remarkable Adhesion of Cellulose Hydrogel to Polyvinylamine Bearing Pendent Phenylboronic Acid

The origin of the strong adhesion between wet, regenerated cellulose film and phenylboronic acid derivatives of polyvinylamine was investigated. The main conclusion was that the phenylboronate groups form weak complexes with the oxidizing ends of cellulose chains in the regenerated cellulose films. There was no evidence that the boronate condensed with hydroxyl groups along the cellulose backbone.