Preparation and characterization of chitosan-based superporous hydrogel composite

Abstract

The synthesis of superporous hydrogel composites (SPHCs) with various concentrations of chitosan as a composite material was carried out by solution polymerization. The characterization studies were performed by measurement of apparent density, porosity, swelling studies, mechanical strength studies, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In double distilled water, SPHCs showed tremendous increase in their equilibrium swelling capacity. But, when the same SPHCs were placed into simulated gastric fluid for swelling, they showed very less equilibrium swelling capacity. The chitosan altered swelling characteristics in both the swelling media. SPHCs showed improved mechanical strength as the chitosan concentration increased. SEM images clearly indicated the formation of interconnected pore, capillary channels, and the cross-linked chitosan molecules were observed around the peripheries of pores.