| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1428631 | Materials Science and Engineering: C | 2014 | 8 Pages |
•POLI–CHI hydrogels were obtained by direct injection and extrusion.•POLI–CHI hydrated hydrogels have 4.2 times their dry weight.•Due to the high water absorption POLI–CHI hydrogels are extremely soft.•POLI–CHI hydrogels can be used in cosmetic and medical industry.
The development of hydrogels based on natural polysaccharides was investigated by preparing mixtures of policaju/chitosan at weight ratios of 1:4 and 2:3. Utilizing dynamic light scattering (DLS) techniques for these mixtures, an increase on the hydrodynamic particle radius was observed varying their pH from 3.0 to 12.0. Furthermore, a reduction of ζ-potential was also observed for the same pH interval. Following rounds of drying/hydration cycles at a specific pH value, hydrogel matrices were formed. The pore size distribution of these formed hydrogels was examined using scanning electron microscopy. Further FT-IR analyses confirmed a physical interaction between the polysaccharides policaju and chitosan. Swelling experiments revealed water uptake values, after 24 h of immersion in water, close to 270% for 1:4, and 320% for 2:3 hydrogels. Finally, rheological measurements were then conducted in order to confirm hydrogel viscoelastic features. These results indicate a promising road to biomaterials fabrication and biomedical applications.
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