Enhanced Biomedical Properties of Chitosan/Alginate Composites by Chemical Immobilization of Gelatin layer on the surface

This project designed surface modification for films made from natural Chitosan-Alginate polymers containing multiple ratios via chemically immobilizing the gelatin polymer. Chitosan-Alginate (C-A) solutions were prepared in 8:2, 7:3 and 5:5 weight percentages. Afterwards, these solutions were used to make composite films to use as solvent casting. Gelatin (G) was immobilized onto C-A films using the crosslinking reagents, which included Glutaraldehyde. The effects of C-A ratio, gelatin concentration, amount of crosslinking agent and duration of immobilization process on the actual immobilized layer were investigated. The films were characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Furrier Transformer Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Zeta Potential. SEM images demonstrated that immobilization onto 7:3 and 5:5 weight percentages ratios of C-A, resulted in a more consistent gelatin layer compared to 8:2. FTIR stereoscopy, which showed the appearance of amid peak in modified films. In DSC curves, suppression in Glass Transmission Temperature (Tg) in modified films was detected. Also, Zeta potential decreased as the amount of gelatin layer on C-A films was increased. The newly developed (C-A-G) Composite films by simple, yet effective method of immobilization can be used for various biomedical applications like tissue engineering and wound healing.