Preparation and characterization of chitin hydrogels by water vapor induced gelation route.
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 Å, apparent coherent crystalline size L₀₂₀=145 Å) comparatively to direct immersion gels (25 Å and L₀₂₀=95 Å). Drug delivery potential of chitin hydrogels was determined for non-interactive low molecular molecules.
UMR Qualisud-Laboratoire Physique Moléculaire et Structurale, Faculté de Pharmacie, 15 Avenue C. Flahault, BP 14491, 34093 Montpellier Cedex 5, France.
L
L
Vachoud
C
C
Pochat-Bohatier
Y
Y
Chakrabandhu
D
D
Bouyer
L
L
David
D002686:Chitin / Q000737:chemistry*; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000737:chemistry*; D055595:Mechanical Phenomena; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry; D014835:Volatilization; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*
D020100:Hydrogels; D014867:Water; D002686:Chitin