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Chitosan, itaconic acid and poly(vinyl alcohol) hybrid polymer networks of high degree of swelling and good mechanical strength
Author(s) -
Milosavljević Nedeljko B,
Kljajević Ljiljana M,
Popović Ivanka G,
Filipović Jovanka M,
Kalagasidis Krušić Melina T
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
polymer international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.592
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1097-0126
pISSN - 0959-8103
DOI - 10.1002/pi.2756
Subject(s) - vinyl alcohol , itaconic acid , chitosan , glutaraldehyde , self healing hydrogels , swelling , thermogravimetric analysis , materials science , interpenetrating polymer network , polymer chemistry , chemical engineering , polymer , differential scanning calorimetry , fourier transform infrared spectroscopy , thermal stability , nuclear chemistry , aqueous solution , chemistry , organic chemistry , composite material , monomer , physics , engineering , thermodynamics
Chitosan is a biodegradable, non‐toxic, biocompatible polymer convenient for use in drug delivery. In this study, hybrid polymeric networks (HPNs) based on chitosan, itaconic acid and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) were prepared and characterized. Chitosan was dissolved in itaconic acid in order to obtain ionic crosslinking with the dicarboxylic acid. In the second step, this chitosan/itaconic acid network was mixed with PVA and chemically crosslinked with glutaraldehyde. The chitosan/itaconic acid ratio was kept constant, while the concentrations of PVA and glutaraldehyde were varied. All samples were characterized using swelling studies, dynamic mechanical analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, X‐ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The equilibrium degrees of swelling obtained for the HPNs were higher than most of the values reported for chitosan hydrogels obtained by dissolving chitosan in acetic acid or HCl aqueous solutions. This method of synthesis also resulted in hydrogels with better mechanical properties and thermal stability. By changing the PVA content and the degree of crosslinking, it is possible to finely tune the properties of the HPNs, which could make them suitable as potential matrices in controlled drug delivery. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry