Characterization and biodegradation of chitosan-alginate polyelectrolyte complexes

Polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs) have been the focus of an expanding number of studies for their wide use. This study investigated the characteristics and biodegradation of chitosan-alginate PECs prepared by freeze-drying a precipitate from sufficient mixtures of the two polymers. The analyses of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) suggested that the partial protonated amine groups of chitosan reacted with the carboxylate groups of alginate and thus strong PECs were formed. After incubating in lysozyme solution, the PECs showed high ability of enzyme adsorption, and low degradation rate in spite of different degrees of deacetylation of chitosan, due to the strong interaction between chitosan and alginate and the hindrance of closely adsorbed lysozyme.