Preparation Of Chitosan-Alginate Polyelectrolyte Complex Membranes And Properties

Polyelectrolyte complex membranes (PECMs) constitute a large family of multi-component polymeric materials with rich functionalities. PECMs have some unique physical properties such as non-solubility in common organic solvents, high surface hydrophilicity, tunable surface charge, and stable structures. PEC membranes (PECMs) have already been utilized in pervaporation, nanofiltration and tissue engineering. These PECMs were prepared with different methods for the desired structure suitable for targeted application. The article prepared chitosan-alginate sodium polyelectrolyte complex nanofiber membranes and chitosan-alginate polyelectrolyte complex multilayer membranes, using freeze-drying and electrodeposition methods, respectively.PECMs of cationic chitosan and anionic sodium alginate with nanofiber structure were synthesized by controlling the concentration and frozen temperature with freeze-drying method. Freeze-drying nanofiber membranes were extensively characterized for their intermolecular interaction, thermal stability, morphology and biocompatibility by using FTIR, XRD, DTG, SEM and Cytotoxicity assay, respectively. The study of swelling property showed that PEC membranes with the nanofiber structure cross-linked by glutaraldehyde exhibited pH-dependent swelling in aqueous media, which might have a potential use in tissue engineering or drug controlled release.Chitosan-alginate polyelectrolyte complex multilayer membranes were prepared on titanium substrates via electrodeposition, based on the pH response of chitosan and alginate. Alginate could, under electrodeposited process, undergo a sol-gel transition based on the pH<3.6at the anode surface, while the pH>6.3at the cathode surface enabled the deposition of cationic chitosan coatings. The surface of membranes was characterized by using Attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The properties of coatings were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and differential thermal analysis (DTA). Moreover, in vitro cytocompatibility test exhibited more cells grew on the membranes, where the outermost layer was alginate.