The invention relates to a method for producing cationized cellulose. The method comprises at least preparing a slurry of a cellulosic starting material in an alkaline liquid medium which comprises an organic liquid and performing mercerization of the slurry. The concentration of the cellulosic starting material in the slurry is at least 20 weight-%, calculated as dry from total weight of the liquid medium and the cellulosic starting material. A cationizing agent is added to the slurry after the mercerization step at a cationization temperature, which is less than the boiling point of the alkaline liquid medium, and the cellulose in the slurry is allowed to react with the cationizing agent, preferably under inert atmosphere and a cationized cellulose product is obtained.

The invention relates to a method for producing cationized cellulose. The method comprises at least preparing a slurry of a cellulosic starting material in an alkaline liquid medium which comprises an organic liquid and performing mercerization of the slurry. The concentration of the cellulosic starting material in the slurry is at least 20 weight-%, calculated as dry from total weight of the liquid medium and the cellulosic starting material. A cationizing agent is added to the slurry after the mercerization step at a cationization temperature, which is less than the boiling point of the alkaline liquid medium, and the cellulose in the slurry is allowed to react with the cationizing agent, preferably under inert atmosphere and a cationized cellulose product is obtained.

An aqueous solution comprising a cationic polymer dissolved in water, wherein said cationic polymer comprises a hydrophobic quaternary ammonium group covalently attached to a hydroxyethyl cellulose polymer backbone. Also, a method of delivering a drug to a mucosal surface in a living body, said method comprising applying the aqueous solution to said mucosal surface.

An aqueous solution comprising a cationic polymer dissolved in water, wherein said cationic polymer comprises a hydrophobic quaternary ammonium group covalently attached to a hydroxyethyl cellulose polymer backbone. Also, a method of delivering a drug to a mucosal surface in a living body, said method comprising applying the aqueous solution to said mucosal surface.

The present invention provides a method for the production of chemically derivatized nanocellulose, comprising the step of a. contacting a precursor cellulosic material with a chemically derivatizing composition to form a liquid reaction mixture, and b. chemically reacting the formed liquid reaction mixture, and c. subjecting the formed liquid reaction mixture to microfluidisation, wherein the steps b. and c. are carried out simultaneously.

The present invention provides a method for the production of chemically derivatized nanocellulose, comprising the step of a. contacting a precursor cellulosic material with a chemically derivatizing composition to form a liquid reaction mixture, and b. chemically reacting the formed liquid reaction mixture, and c. subjecting the formed liquid reaction mixture to microfluidisation, wherein the steps b. and c. are carried out simultaneously.

A method for chemically functionalizing a cellulosic material using a diazo compound, and the functionalized cellulosic materials obtained by the method. The cellulosic materials may be functionalized with a functional groups selected from hydrophobic agents, catalyzing agents, sensing agent, diagnostic agents, printing agents chelating agents, ligands, antioxidants, antimicrobial agents, or drugs. Also, the uses of functionalized cellulosic materials obtained by the method in a variety of applications.

A method for chemically functionalizing a cellulosic material using a diazo compound, and the functionalized cellulosic materials obtained by the method. The cellulosic materials may be functionalized with a functional groups selected from hydrophobic agents, catalyzing agents, sensing agent, diagnostic agents, printing agents chelating agents, ligands, antioxidants, antimicrobial agents, or drugs. Also, the uses of functionalized cellulosic materials obtained by the method in a variety of applications.

The present invention aims to provide a rubber composition having sufficient reinforcement and fatigue resistance even when a large strain is applied thereto, and the present invention is to provide a substituted carboxy group-containing modified cellulose nanofiber wherein at least part thereof has at least any one of a substituent represented by Formula (a): —CONH—R.sup.1 and a substituent represented by Formula (b): —COO—R.sup.1 (in Formulae (a) and (b), R.sup.1 is independently a C.sub.3-30 hydrocarbon having at least one unsaturated bond), and a rubber composition including the same.

The present invention aims to provide a rubber composition having sufficient reinforcement and fatigue resistance even when a large strain is applied thereto, and the present invention is to provide a substituted carboxy group-containing modified cellulose nanofiber wherein at least part thereof has at least any one of a substituent represented by Formula (a): —CONH—R.sup.1 and a substituent represented by Formula (b): —COO—R.sup.1 (in Formulae (a) and (b), R.sup.1 is independently a C.sub.3-30 hydrocarbon having at least one unsaturated bond), and a rubber composition including the same.