{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,15]],"date-time":"2026-09-15T00:42:05Z","timestamp":1789432925220,"version":"build-2803163510"},"reference-count":45,"publisher":"Wiley","issue":"3","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,5]],"date-time":"2026-05-05T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1777939200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":4,"URL":"http:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/termsAndConditions#vor"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,1]],"date-time":"2026-05-01T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1777593600000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/doi.wiley.com\/10.1002\/tdm_license_1.1"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["onlinelibrary.wiley.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Biopolymers"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,5]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>ABSTRACT<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:p>\n                    Cellulose derived from ascidians (tunicates) is distinguished from plant\u2010based counterparts by its marine origin, with high crystallinity, and complex hierarchical architecture. However, quantitative structure\u2013property relationships governing its performance in bioplastic applications remain underexplored. Here, cellulose isolated from three ascidian species\n                    <jats:italic>Ascidia<\/jats:italic>\n                    sp. (T1),\n                    <jats:italic>Herdmania<\/jats:italic>\n                    cf.\n                    <jats:italic>pallida<\/jats:italic>\n                    (T2), and\n                    <jats:italic>Ascidia sydneiensis<\/jats:italic>\n                    (T3) was systematically characterized. X\u2010ray diffraction reveals crystallinity indices (CrI) of 48% (T1) and 60% (T2, T3), the latter approaching values reported for highly ordered systems such as bacterial cellulose. Thermogravimetric analysis demonstrates species\u2010dependent thermal stability, with maximum degradation temperatures of 345\u00b0C (T1) versus 400\u00b0C\u2013401\u00b0C (T2, T3). Notably, T2 and T3 exhibit thermal behavior comparable to microcrystalline and bacterial cellulose, despite CrI values lower than those systems, indicating that hydrogen\u2010bonding density and microfibrillar order govern thermal resilience. Scanning electron microscopy reveals distinct microfibrillar architectures, ranging from highly branched networks to compact laminar structures, which govern water interaction and mechanical response. Water absorption varies markedly by species: T1 and T3 absorb 2200\u20132400\u2009wt% within 10\u2009min, consistent with their branched, open fibrillar morphologies, whereas T2 absorbs only 1200\u2009wt%, reflecting a compact lamellar microstructure that restricts water diffusion. Hydrolytic degradation after 28\u2009days in neutral water remains minimal across all samples, confirming exceptional resistance to hydrolytic scission under mild conditions. Bioplastics fabricated from these celluloses exhibit tensile strengths of 1\u20134\u2009MPa, directly correlating with microstructural packing. Collectively, these results establish that ascidian cellulose is the combination of thermal stability up to 400\u00b0C, tunable water affinity (1200\u20132400% absorption), and hydrolytic resistance (1\u20139% loss over 28\u2009days) arises from species\u2010specific interactions between crystallinity, hydrogen bonding, and microfibrillar architecture. This positions ascidian\u2010derived cellulose as a distinct marine macromolecular scaffold for sustainable bioplastics where controlled water interaction and structural durability are required. In general, it is established the relationship between the biological origin, hierarchical structure, and macroscopic properties of tunicate cellulose, highlighting its potential as a marine\u2010derived macromolecular building block suitable for sustainable bioplastics applications.\n                  <\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1002\/bip.70099","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,6]],"date-time":"2026-05-06T06:22:46Z","timestamp":1778048566000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Ascidians as a Sustainable Source of Cellulose: Physicochemical Characterization, Degradability, and Relevance for Bioplastic Applications"],"prefix":"10.1002","volume":"117","author":[{"given":"Lizbeth","family":"Zamora\u2010Mendoza","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Chemical Engineering Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ)  Quito Ecuador"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Yuliana J.","family":"Valdiviezo\u2010Cuenca","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Chemical Engineering Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ)  Quito Ecuador"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9547-8020","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Gabriela","family":"Agurto\u2010Rodr\u00edguez","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Escuela Superior Polit\u00e9cnica del Litoral, ESPOL  Guayaquil Ecuador"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Pa\u00fal O.","family":"Guill\u00e9n","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Centro Nacional de Acuicultura e Investigaciones Marinas (CENAIM) Escuela Superior Polit\u00e9cnica del Litoral (ESPOL)  Guayaquil Ecuador"},{"name":"Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Matem\u00e1ticas Escuela Superior Polit\u00e9cnica del Litoral, ESPOL  Guayaquil Ecuador"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Floralba","family":"L\u00f3pez","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"CATS Research Group, School of Chemical Sciences and Engineering Yachay Tech University  Ibarra Ecuador"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Lady V.","family":"Guanoliquin","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Chemical Engineering Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ)  Quito Ecuador"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Cesar","family":"Zambrano","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Chemical Engineering Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ)  Quito Ecuador"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Camilo","family":"Zamora\u2010Ledezma","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Bioengineering &amp; Regenerative Medicine Research Group (Bio\u2010ReM), Escuela de Ingenier\u00eda, Arquitectura y Dise\u00f1o (EIAD) Universidad Alfonso X el Sabio (UAX)  Villanueva de la Ca\u00f1ada Madrid Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jenny","family":"Rodr\u00edguez","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Centro Nacional de Acuicultura e Investigaciones Marinas (CENAIM) Escuela Superior Polit\u00e9cnica del Litoral (ESPOL)  Guayaquil Ecuador"},{"name":"Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida Escuela Superior Polit\u00e9cnica del Litoral, ESPOL  Guayaquil Ecuador"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Gabriel","family":"G\u00f3mez\u2010Guerra","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Mechanical Engineering Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ)  Quito Ecuador"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0597-7940","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Frank","family":"Alexis","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Chemical Engineering Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ)  Quito Ecuador"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"311","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,5]]},"reference":[{"key":"e_1_2_9_2_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1073\/pnas.0303623101"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_3_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/app.10711"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_4_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijbiomac.2024.134337"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_5_1","first-page":"47","volume-title":"Nature","author":"Li T.","year":"2021"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_6_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s10570\u2010014\u20100348\u20106"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_7_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.actbio.2020.04.038"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_8_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/adsu.202500139"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_9_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/polym14010016"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_10_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s10570\u2010021\u201004161\u20106"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_11_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/adfm.202422595"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_12_1","first-page":"139439","volume-title":"Chemical Engineering Journal","author":"Lv X.","year":"2023"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_13_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0020657"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_14_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/adhm.202101389"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_15_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s12915\u2010018\u20100499\u20102"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_16_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ympev.2018.01.005"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_17_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/anie.200460587"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_18_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1745\u20107270.2007.00320.x"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_19_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.heliyon.2021.e07819"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_20_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/S0144\u20108617(00)00151\u2010X"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_21_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"A. B. D.Nandiyanto R.Oktiani andR.Ragadhita \u201cHow to Read and Interpret FTIR Spectroscope of Organic Material \u201d2018 https:\/\/ejournal.kjpupi.id\/index.php\/ijost\/article\/view\/189.","DOI":"10.17509\/ijost.v4i1.15806"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_22_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1021\/acs.accounts.3c00682"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_23_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.5772\/50452"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_24_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.4236\/ajac.2018.96023"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_25_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jece.2018.06.056"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_26_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.carbpol.2020.117470"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_27_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.biortech.2011.11.122"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_28_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.fuel.2006.12.013"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_29_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"M. J.Dunlop R.Bissessur andB.Acharya \u201cWaste to Resource: Utilizing Cellulose Nanocrystals From Invasive Tunicates \u201d2021 https:\/\/doi.org\/10.32393\/csme.2021.134.","DOI":"10.32393\/csme.2021.134"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_30_1","first-page":"3353","volume-title":"Cellulose","author":"Machado B.","year":"2024"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_31_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1039\/d2cs00569g"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_32_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s10570\u2010025\u201006797\u20100"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_33_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.tifs.2025.105167"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_34_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/polym12123071"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_35_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1021\/cr900339w"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_36_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1088\/1755\u20101315\/1445\/1\/012026"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_37_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.scowo.2025.100135"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_38_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1021\/bm049291k"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_39_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.15517\/rbt.v69is2.48318"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_40_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1046\/j.1096\u20103642.2002.00017.x"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_41_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/bioengineering12080838"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_42_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/molecules30132752"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_43_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s10570\u2010021\u201004349\u2010w"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_44_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1088\/1742\u20106596\/1751\/1\/012075"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_45_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/membranes12100975"},{"key":"e_1_2_9_46_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.30955\/gnj.005613"}],"container-title":["Biopolymers"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/pdf\/10.1002\/bip.70099","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/full-xml\/10.1002\/bip.70099","content-type":"application\/xml","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/pdf\/10.1002\/bip.70099","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,15]],"date-time":"2026-05-15T07:19:41Z","timestamp":1778829581000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/10.1002\/bip.70099"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,5]]},"references-count":45,"journal-issue":{"issue":"3","published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,5]]}},"alternative-id":["10.1002\/bip.70099"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/bip.70099","archive":["Portico"],"relation":{},"ISSN":["0006-3525","1097-0282"],"issn-type":[{"value":"0006-3525","type":"print"},{"value":"1097-0282","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,5]]},"assertion":[{"value":"2026-03-03","order":0,"name":"received","label":"Received","group":{"name":"publication_history","label":"Publication History"}},{"value":"2026-04-16","order":2,"name":"accepted","label":"Accepted","group":{"name":"publication_history","label":"Publication History"}},{"value":"2026-05-05","order":3,"name":"published","label":"Published","group":{"name":"publication_history","label":"Publication History"}}],"article-number":"e70099"}}