Chitosan-based hydrogels: Synthesis and characterization

Chitosan (CHI) is a polysaccharide of beta -1,4-linked 2-amino-2-deoxy-D-gl ucopyranose derived by N-deacetylation of chitin in aqueous alkaline medium . The shells of crustaceans such as crabs, shrimp, and lobster are the curr ent source of chitosan. It is known to be non-toxic, odourless, biocompatib le in animal tissues and enzymatically biodegradable. For these reasons muc h research interest has been paid to its biomedical, ecological, and indust rial applications over the past decade. However, its rigid crystalline stru cture, poor solubility in organic solvents and poor processability have lim ited its use. To broadening its range of applications, a growth research ef fort has been devoted to explore ways of modifying Chitosan. Here it has be en reported on the synthesis of new hydrogels, obtained by self-curing chit osan with acrylic acid (AA) and methyl acrylate (MA). The hydrogels were ch aracterized by FTIR, swelling and rheological analysis. The results of this study showed that the swelling and mechanical properties of chitosan are h ighly improved by the presence of poly acrylate. The swelling degree of the se materials does not depend upon the ratio MA/AA. It is possible to improv e and modulate the mechanical properties of the hydrogels by changing the r elative MA/AA ratio. (C) 2001 Kluwer Academic Publishers.