Preparation and characterization of chitin hydrogels by water vapor induced gelation route

作者：Vachoud L; Pochat Bohatier C^*; Chakrabandhu Y; Bouyer D; David L

来源：International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2012, 51(4): 431-439.

DOI：10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2012.05.031

• Chitin
• Hydrogel
• Nanostructure
• Mass transfers
• Diffusion

A novel method of chitin hydrogel preparation, called vapor induced gelation, using exposure of chitin/N-methyl-pyrrolidone/LiCl solution to water vapors is presented. Compared to gelation induced by direct immersion in water, hydrogels are characterized by smaller deformation during gelation (area shrinkage is 20% instead of 65%), larger water volume fraction (75 instead of 62%, v/v) and 10 times higher apparent compression moduli. Their nanostructure consists of thicker and larger crystalline platelets network (thickness = 37 angstrom, apparent coherent crystalline size L-020 = 145 angstrom) comparatively to direct immersion gels (25 angstrom and L-020 = 95 angstrom). Drug delivery potential of chitin hydrogels was determined for non-interactive low molecular molecules.

• 出版日期2012-11