A FACILE SYNTHESIS OF NAPHTHYL CHITOSAN BASED COMPOSITE HYDROGELS AND THEIR SWELLING APPLICATIONS

Abstract

Chitosan based hydrogels are effective vectors for biomedical applications with intrinsic valuable properties, such as: biocompatibility, biodegradability, low cost, easy availability, and high reactivity due to plenty of the reactive functional groups. Herein we report the synthesis of naphthyl chitosan based composite hydrogels with PVA and starch which can undergo rapid gelation in the presence of anchoring groups of naphthaldehyde. The prepared composite hydrogels were characterized ultra-visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform spectroscopy to predict the formation of composite hydrogels. The morphology and the thermal behavior of the composite hydrogels were analyzed using Scanning electron microscopy and thermogravimetric analyzer. The composite hydrogels were found to have stimuli-sensitive sequences and remarkable phase behavior in the solutions. Hence, the responsive behavior of these hydrogels in relative to specific external stimuli, such as salt solution, pH and physiological solutions were studied. The reversible swelling-deswelling behaviour of the hydrogels in two different pH solutions was also examined. These hydrogels can be recommended for use in biomedical applications.