Alginate Blend Films Research Articles

Preparation of human hair keratin/calcium alginate blend films

The preparation of human hair keratin/calcium alginate blend films was used of calcium chloride as coagulation bath. Two components in the blend film have good compatibility due to the presence of calcium bridges and hydrogen bonds. However, large molecular aggregates were increased with the increase of the protein content of human hair, which was also affected the light transmittance, the tensile strength, the elongation at break and the liquid absorption of the blend films.

Methylcellulose films partially crosslinked by iron compounds for medical applications

Methylcellulose (MC) is now widely used in medicine to fill defects of damaged tissues. A new method is proposed to improve the stability of MC-based materials in aqueous media using non-toxic reagents. MC–alginate blend films are crosslinked by iron(II) and iron(III) ions using different iron salts. The resulting films are stable in physiological solution for about 14 days. Mechanical tests of the dried films show an increase in the Young's modulus with iron concentration in solutions. Mössbauer spectroscopy data show that the films contain Fe3+ ions alone irrespective of whether chlorides of Fe2+ or Fe3+ are applied as crosslinking agents. The use of ascorbic acid as a complexing agent prevents Fe2+ from oxidation. The obtained materials are stable for at least half a year. The resulting films facilitate the growth of human fibroblasts on their surface.

Scale-Up Preparation and Characterization of Collagen/Sodium Alginate Blend Films

In an effort to produce scale-up of edible films, collagen-based films including different amounts of sodium alginate (CS) were prepared by casting method. Films were characterized based on their rheological, thermal, and mechanical properties, water vapor permeability (WVP), and oxygen permeability (OP). The microstructures were also evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Furthermore, the addition of sodium alginate effectively improved the viscosity and thermal stability, significantly increased TS, and decreased E and WVP (P<0.05), but with no obvious effect on OP (P>0.05). SEM and AFM showed homogeneous matrix, with no signs of phase separation in the blends. Overall, films (CS2) produced using collagen (g) : sodium alginate (g) = 10 : 2 showed suitable rheological property (apparent viscosity was 4.87 m Pa s−1) and better TS (26.49 Mpa), E (64.98%), WVP (1.79 × 10−10 g·cm−1·s−1·Pa−1), and OP (3.77 × 10−5 cm3·m−2·d−1·Pa−1).

Silk Fibroin/Sodium Alginate Composite Film and Hydroxyapatite Mineralization

Silk fibroin/sodium alginate blend films and its hydroxyapatite deposition were prepared and characterized by scanning electron microscopy, wide angle X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared analysis, and thermal analysis. The surface of blend films showed much more rod-like structure dispersing uniformity and its average length increasing from 181 to 803nm with increasing the contents of sodium alginate. The crystal structure of silk fibroin and the compatibility of the two components were associated with the content of sodium alginate in silk fibroin/sodium alginate blend films. The silk I and silk II crystal structures of silk fibroin were co-existed in the blend films and a rather complex conformation transition occurred, which was confirmed by wide angle X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared analysis. Thermal behavior of blend films was interrupted by adding different contents of sodium alginate. Adding 30.0% sodium alginate or more, the endothermic peak of moisture evaporation shifted downward from 111 to 80°C, and the degradation peaks at 243 and 279°C, respectively, indicating an obviously two phase structure in the blend films. In addition, the rod-like HAp crystals were grown on the surface of blend films. This result may provide some new ideas in the design and fabrication of new materials through the silk fibroin/sodium alginate composite materials template for the hydroxyapatite crystal growth.

Preparation of Biodegradable Silk Fibroin/Alginate Blend Films for Controlled Release of Antimicrobial Drugs

Silk fibroin (SF)/alginate blend films have been prepared for controlled release of tetracycline hydrochloride, an antimicrobial model drug. The blend films were analysed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and UV-vis spectroscopy. The functional groups of the SF/alginate blends were monitored from their FTIR spectra. The homogeneity of the blend films was observed from SEM images. The dissolution and film transparency of the blend films depended on the SF/alginate blend ratio. Thein vitrodrug release profile of the blend films was determined by plotting the cumulative drug release versus time. It was found that the drug release significantly decreased as the SF/alginate blend ratio increased. The results demonstrated that the SF/alginate blend films should be a useful controlled-release delivery system for water-soluble drugs.

Properties of pullulan-based blend films as affected by alginate content and relative humidity.

Pullulan-sodium alginate blend films were prepared and characterized as a function of water activity (aw). At low aw, the incorporation of alginate into pullulan film increased the tensile strength and elastic modulus, but decreased the elongation at break of the composite films; the opposite trends were observed at elevated aw. Above 0.43 aw, water exerted a typical plasticization effect upon the biopolymer blends. As aw increased from 0.23 to 0.43, an anti-plasticization effect was observed as tensile strength and elastic modulus increased. The glass transition temperature of all samples decreased substantially as aw increased from 0.23 to 0.84 due to the plasticization effect of water. Within this aw range, one transition temperature was observed for all film specimens. The stretching vibration band of O-H was investigated using attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy to identify the various species of water interacting with the polysaccharide films.