Increasing Chitosan Concentration Research Articles

Impact of Molar Composition on the Functional Properties of Glutinous Rice Starch-Chitosan Blend: Natural-Based Active Coating for Extending Mango Shelf Life.

This study investigates natural-based blends of glutinous rice starch (GRS) and chitosan (CS), varying their molar composition (0:100, 30:70, 50:50, 70:30, and 100:0) to explore their interaction dynamics. Our findings illustrate the versatility of these blends in solution and film forms, offering applications across diverse fields. Our objective is to understand their impact on coatings designed to extend the post-harvest shelf life of mangoes. Results reveal that increasing chitosan content in GRS/CS blends enhances mechanical strength, hydrophobicity, and resistance to Colletotrichum gloeosporioides infection, a common cause of mango anthracnose. These properties overcome limitations of GRS films. Advanced techniques, including FTIR analysis and stereo imaging, confirmed robust interaction between GRS/CS blend films and mango cuticles, improving coverage with higher chitosan content. This comprehensive coverage reduces mango dehydration and respiration, thereby preserving quality and extending shelf life. Coating with a GRS/CS blend containing at least 50% chitosan effectively prevents disease progression and maintains quality over a 10-day storage period, while uncoated mangoes fail to meet quality standards within 2 days. Moreover, increasing the starch proportion in GRS/CS blends enhances film density, optical properties, and reduces reliance on acidic solvents, thereby minimizing undesirable changes in product aroma and taste.

Thixotropic chitosan hydrogels for biomedical applications: Unravelling the effect of chitosan concentration on the mechanical behaviour

Chitosan hydrogels are highly sought after in biomedical applications due to their biocompatibility, non-toxicity, and tunable mechanical properties. Nevertheless, achieving stable hydrogels with the required mechanical strength remains a notable obstacle. In this study, we prepared chitosan hydrogels with enhanced stability using minimal concentrations of glutaraldehyde to mitigate toxicity risks. The resulting hydrogel system is characterized by strong covalent bonds formed through imine and hydrogen bonding, facilitated by the aldehyde groups of glutaraldehyde. Rheological analyses reveal the viscoelastic properties of the hydrogels, showcasing stable gel-like structures with shear-thinning behavior, which are further enhanced with increasing chitosan concentration. Our observation demonstrates that the complex shear moduli of 0.5 - 1.5 w/v % chitosan hydrogel ranged between 3.08 kPa and 8.5 kPa, closely matching the shear moduli of the brain and connective tissues. The shear moduli obtained for the 2w/v% (10.2 kPa) and 2.5w/v% hydrogels (11.34 kPa) conform to the shear moduli of liver, fat, relaxed muscle, and breast gland tissue. Thixotropic studies reveal good structural recovery behaviour in the hydrogels. The swellability of 2w/v% and 2.5w/v% hydrogels (50-70%) suggests their suitability for bone tissue engineering, with moderate porosity required for bone growth (60-75%). Moreover, the yield stress values of 0.5 - 1.5 w/v % hydrogels satisfy the requirements for soft tissue engineering, while those of 2 and 2.5 w/v% match the requirements for bone tissue engineering. Our findings suggest that chitosan hydrogels of varying concentrations (0.5–2.5% w/v) hold promise for a range of biomedical applications, including tissue engineering for brain, nerve, soft, and bone tissues, and wound dressing. This research addresses the pressing need for stable chitosan hydrogels with tailored mechanical properties, potentially offering solutions to challenges in biomedical materials design.

Comparative study on the effects of chitosan, carrageenan, and sodium alginate on the film-forming properties of fish skin gelatin

Polysaccharides are commonly used to improve the film-forming properties of gelatin due to their wide range of sources, safety, and edible properties. However, there has been no systematic study comparing the effects of different polysaccharides on the film-forming properties of gelatin. Effects of chitosan, carrageenan, and sodium alginate on the optical properties, mechanical properties, thermal stability, hydrophilicity, and structure properties of gelatin films were systematically compared. Adding chitosan effectively reduced the ultraviolet transmittance of gelatin film. With an increase in chitosan concentration from 2 g/L to 8 g/L, the melting transition temperature (Tm) of gelatin film increased from 74 °C to 101 °C. Additionally, water vapor permeability decreased from 2.2 ± 0.23 (g.mm)/m2.h.kpa to 1.2 ± 0.18 (g.mm)/m2.h.kpa and water solubility decreased from 75% to 66%. Adding carrageenan and sodium alginate respectively increased the Tm of gelatin film to 92 °C and 84 °C; however, their addition reduced hydrophobicity and elongation at break for gelatin films. X-ray diffraction results suggested good compatibility between gelatin and all three polysaccharides while Fourier transform infrared spectrum results confirmed hydrogen bond interaction between gelatin and polysaccharides with a more orderly structure observed in gelatin films after adding polysaccharides.

Economic Approach for Synthesis of Gold Nanoparticle-based Freeze Indicator for Fish Products

This study was conducted during the period September 2020–January 2023 at ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Technology, Cochin. The study was to develop a cost-effective freeze indicator using gold nanoparticles. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were synthesized using chitosan and trisodium citrate (TSC) as a reducing agent. Various chitosan samples with different molecular weights were obtained from commercial chitosan units. Chitosan was employed at two distinct concentrations. The UV-Vis spectra exhibited the characteristic peak of AuNPs at 520–530 nm in all analyzed samples. The samples containing chitosan displayed a light pink color, whereas those containing TSC exhibited a ruby red color. An increase in chitosan concentration led to an increase in absorbance of the SPR peak. The full width at half maximum (FWHM), zeta potential, and conductivity of the nanoparticles were also investigated. The stability of the synthesized nanoparticles was assessed during frozen storage at -18°C, revealing that the sample containing TSC became colorless upon freezing. The stability of chitosan-containing samples improved with higher concentrations and molecular weights. No distinct color change upon freezing was observed in the samples synthesized using chitosan. The AuNPs synthesized using TSC were evaluated and the significant color change demonstrated by the sample confirmed that the nanoparticle solution synthesized using TSC at a gold concentration of 1 mM can serve as an effective freeze indicator for food and pharmaceutical applications.

Development of Poly(vinyl alcohol)-Chitosan Composite Nanofibers for Dual Drug Therapy of Wounds.

Current trends in localized drug delivery are emphasizing the development of dual drug-loaded electrospun nanofibers (NFs) for an improved therapeutic effect on wounds, especially infected skin wounds. The objective of this study was to formulate a new healing therapy for an infected skin wound. To achieve this goal, this study involved the development and characterization of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)/chitosan nanofibers loaded with ciprofloxacin and rutin hydrate. Polymers and drugs were used in different ratios. Nanofiber morphology was studied by scanning electron microscopy, thermal stability by thermogravimetric analysis, structural determination by the X-ray diffraction method, and integrity by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Dissolution studies were performed to check the drug release behavior of the formulations. Antibacterial studies were performed against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The wound healing efficiency of dual drug-loaded nanofibers was measured by a full-thickness excisional wound model of rabbits. The fabricated nanofibers were smooth in morphology. According to FTIR findings, the drugs remained intact in the nanofibers. The results of swelling ratio and porosity revealed that the pore size was increased as the amount of chitosan was increased up to 30% but a further increase in chitosan concentration reduced the swelling ratio and porosity. Drug release studies of nanofibers depicted an initial burst effect and afterward controlled drug release behavior. Drug-loaded nanofibers showed better activity against S. aureus than P. aeruginosa. The antibacterial efficacy of rutin hydrate with ciprofloxacin was improved compared to that of the formulation having rutin hydrate only, likely due to the additive effect in activity. Based on wound healing studies, nanofibrous membranes acted as a promising wound dressing material as compared to the commercial wound healing formulation. Drug-loaded polymeric nanofibers were successfully fabricated by using an electrospinning method. These nanofibers showed an efficient ability to deliver drugs and treat infected wounds.

Utilization of chitosan as an additive for enhancing the performance of polyethersulfone membranes for water treatment

This research investigates the impact of adding chitosan as an additive to improve membrane performance. Membrane fabrication was conducted using the non-solvent-induced phase separation method with polymer blending. Characterization was conducted by evaluating functional groups using FTIR, morphological structure using SEM, and water contact angle using a WCA meter. The research findings show that chitosan additives have a positive influence on the prepared PES membrane. There was a change in the morphological form on the membrane, as evidenced by SEM photos of the cross-section of the membrane. An increase in chitosan concentration resulted in improved hydrophilic properties of the membrane, indicated by a 63.2° reduction in water contact angle. The results show that the best membrane performance was achieved with 4% chitosan addition, resulting in a water flux of 38.2 L/m2.h as well as humic acid rejection of 67.9%.

Utilizing chitosan and pullulan for the encapsulation of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum ZJ316 to enhance its vitality in the gastrointestinal tract

Lactiplantibacillus plantarum ZJ316 has demonstrated effective alleviation of gastritis and colitis, making it crucial to improve its viability within the gastrointestinal tract. In this study, Chitosan (CS) and pullulan (PUL) encapsulated nanofibers of ZJ316 were prepared using electrospinning, considering both the synergistic effects of prebiotics and probiotics and their protective effects. We found that increasing the CS ratio resulted in elevated conductivity of the polymer solution, while decreasing viscosity and pH. Scanning electron microscopy showed that at a CS: PUL ratio of 1:135, polymer filaments were difficult to form, and nanofiber diameter decreased with higher CS content. X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the miscibility of CS and PUL, while ATR-FTIR demonstrated the presence of hydrogen bonding interactions between the two materials. Thermal analysis indicated that an increased CS concentration improved the thermal stability of the nanofibers. Based on these findings, the optimal CS:PUL ratio for electrospinning was determined to be 1:60. Encapsulation of ZJ316 in the nanofibers significantly enhanced its survival rate in simulated gastrointestinal fluid compared to free bacteria, with survival rates of 87.24 % (gastric) and 79.71 % (intestinal), respectively. This study provides valuable insights for the development of probiotic functional foods.

Effect of chitosan on the insulation and smoke absorption properties of expanded vermiculite composites

ABSTRACT In order to improve the thermal insulation and smoking properties of expanded vermiculite matrix composites, a kind of expanded vermiculite (EV)/chitosan (CS) composites was prepared by hot pressing. The effects of CS on smoke density, fire-resistance, insulation, and mechanical properties of the EV/CS composites were studied. The results show that with the increase of CS content, the smoke absorption performance and energy storage modulus of the composites is improved. Thermogravimetric (TG) analysis shows that the thermal stability of the EV/CS composite is improved by the presence of chitosan. The pores appear on the surface of the composites after the single-side fire-resistance test. After that, the thermal conductivity of the composites gradually decreases and the insulation performance is improved as the CS content increases. The CS carbonized during the preparation of the composites and thermal decomposition during the test. The morphology results show phase separation of the composites, and the porosity of the composites increases after the test. The reticular structure formed between the EV particles, sodium silicate, and CS molecules reduces the strength loss of the composites.

Ethyl cellulose-chitosan microspheres of sumatriptan succinate for nasal drug delivery

The research investigated the preparation of mucoadhesive microspheres using ethyl cellulose and chitosan as polymers. Two methods were employed, with the first method utilizing an emulsion solvent evaporation technique and the second method incorporating additional homogenization and sonication steps. The results showed that the first method yielded nearly perfect spherical microspheres with a particle size range of 50 µm, while the second method produced irregularly shaped microspheres with larger particle sizes within the range of 200 µm. The drug entrapment efficiency was significantly higher in the first method compared to the second method, and within the first method, drug entrapment efficiency decreased with increasing chitosan concentration. These findings underscore the importance of method selection and chitosan concentration in microsphere synthesis, providing insights for optimizing drug delivery systems for targeted applications.

Optimisation of Chitosan as A Natural Flocculant for Microplastic Remediation

The objective of this study is to determine the optimal concentration of chitosan for microplastic remediation using the coagulation-flocculation method. The chitosan concentrations employed in this study include 10, 20, 30, and 40 ppm. The process of coagulation was conducted for one minute, with a rotational speed of 120 rpm. The process of flocculation was performed for 30 minutes with a rotational speed of 60 rpm. The findings of the study indicate that chitosan demonstrates a high efficacy in microplastic removal, resulting in a removal rate of 68.3%. Furthermore, the research findings indicate that the optimal concentration of chitosan for microplastic remediation was determined to be 30 ppm. The concentration of chitosan has a direct impact on the pH, TDS, COD, and BOD values. In general, an increase in chitosan concentration leads to a drop in pH and TDS values; conversely, an increase in chitosan concentration results in a rise in COD and BOD values.

Analysis of the morphological and mechanical characterization of aluminium matrix composite reinforced with chitosan

Recent studies acknowledge that convectional ceramic particulate could be replaced by several agricultural by-products in the development of aluminium matrix composites because of its selected for their low cost and relative ubiquity. This study explores the development of aluminium matrix composite from AA6061 alloy reinforced with chitosan particulates at weight proportions (3, 6, 9, and 12 wt%). The study further characterizes the developed composites using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray Diffractometer (XRD), hardness, tensile and thermal and electrical conductivity test techniques. Results indicated that increasing chitosan content up to 10 wt% enhanced the hardness performance, while tensile strength of the composites increased sporadically, as SEM images observed reinforcement links embedded in grain boundaries. However, the thermal and electrical conductivity diminished due to the addition of chitosan particulates to the alloy matrix. The overall study showed the great potential of chitosan polymer as reinforcement to aluminium alloy.

FEASIBILITY STUDY ON PREPARATION OF RICE STRAW NONWOVEN COATED WITH CHITOSAN FOR REACTIVE DYE ADSORPTION

Rice straw is the most abundant agricultural waste material in Thailand. Therefore, this research was interested in utilizing rice straw and adding value by preparing a reactive dye bioadsorbant. The aims of this research were to prepare rice straw nonwovens by the wet-laid process, study chitosan-coated nonwovens by the dip coating method, and evaluate the reactive dye adsorption capacity of the coated nonwovens. The ratio of weight per unit area of the prepared nonwovens was controlled. The nonwovens were dipped in chitosan solutions (0.5, 1, and 1.5 wt% of chitosan) to prepare chitosan coated nonwovens. Reactive dye adsorption capacity, chemical structure, morphology, and physical properties of the nonwovens were investigated. It was found that rice straw nonwoven coated with chitosan increased in thickness, hardness, and water resistance properties with increasing chitosan concentration. Chitosan-coated nonwoven, at 15% chitosan concentration and a contact time of 72 hours, was able to adsorb 38.40% of the reactive azo dye, C.I. Reactive Blue 194 (50 mg/L). The dye absorbency of the chitosan-coated nonwovens increased with the increase in the chitosan-coated concentration and the contact time. In addition, the chitosan-coated nonwovens could remain on rice straw cellulose nonwoven surfaces under reactive dye immersion for at least 72 hours without change. The results indicated that rice straw nonwovens coated with chitosan by the dip coating method had reactive dye adsorption abilities.

De-branching of starch molecules enhanced the complexation with chitosan and its potential utilization for delivering hydrophobic compounds

The current study aimed to prepare the complexes between debranched-waxy corn starch and chitosan polymers (DBS-CS), and then investigated their corresponding structural characteristics, rheological property and potent application in Pickering emulsion. The results indicated that the existence of chitosan significantly inhibited starch short-range molecular rearrangement for all DBS-CS samples, which was manipulated by both debranching treatment and chitosan content. Interestingly, this is the first study to reveal that the outstanding peak at 1.8 ppm in 1H NMR spectrum for sample DBS-CS was gradually shifted towards a lower-field region following an increased chitosan content. Moreover, the debranching treatment shifted the crystallinity pattern from A-type to B-type and the relative crystallinity of DBS-CS decreased gradually with the increased content of CS. All samples had a pseudoplastic fluid and shear-thinning behavior with an enhanced shear resistance following the complexation. The DBS-CS was applied in a Pickering emulsion for showing a greater emulsifying stability and a lower gel strength than native NS-CS prepared emulsion. Importantly, the encapsulation ability of curcumin in the DBS-CS emulsion was significantly improved, followed by an increase of 15.45% for its corresponding bioavailability compared to the control. Therefore, this study might highlight a potential carrier for delivering the bioactive substances in a green pattern.

The Effect of Chitosan on Physicochemical Properties of Whey Protein Isolate Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering Applications.

New scaffolds, based on whey protein isolate (WPI) and chitosan (CS), have been proposed and investigated as possible materials for use in osteochondral tissue repair. Two types of WPI-based hydrogels modified by CS were prepared: CS powder was incorporated into WPI in either dissolved or suspended powder form. The optimal chemical composition of the resulting WPI/CS hydrogels was chosen based on the morphology, structural properties, chemical stability, swelling ratio, wettability, mechanical properties, bioactivity, and cytotoxicity evaluation. The hydrogels with CS incorporated in powder form exhibited superior mechanical properties and higher porosity, whereas those with CS incorporated after dissolution showed enhanced wettability, which decreased with increasing CS content. The introduction of CS powder into the WPI matrix promoted apatite formation, as confirmed by energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analyses. In vitro cytotoxicity results confirmed the cytocompatibility of CS powder modified WPI hydrogels, suggesting their suitability as cell scaffolds. These findings demonstrate the promising potential of WPI/CS scaffolds for osteochondral tissue repair.

Structural, thermal, optical, and mechanical properties of composite films developed from the button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus)-sourced high molecular weight chitosan and potato starch

Films were fabricated using the button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) sourced high molecular weight chitosan with or without potato starch using the casting method. Glycerol was used as the plasticizer. Chitosan content in the film-forming solution (FFS) was varied (0.5, 0.75 and 1.0% w/v of FFS) while potato starch (1.0% of FFS) and glycerol (25% of the total solid content in the solution) contents were not varied. The control sample contained only chitosan (1.0% of the FFS) and glycerol. The effect of increasing the content of chitosan on the rheological properties of FFS and the properties of the films were investigated. The FFS's shear viscosity and shear modulus (elastic and viscous components) increased with increasing chitosan content. Morphological examination revealed that the films exhibited a compact structure devoid of large pores and cracks. Surface roughness captured with an atomic force microscope was reduced (19-6 nm) with increasing content of chitosan in the film. The films exhibited two hydrated crystalline phases at 9 and 20o. Light transmittance and glossiness of the films were enhanced with increasing chitosan content. FTIR analysis indicated the increasing availability of reactive sites with the increasing content of chitosan leading to an enhanced hydrogen bonds network and increased cohesion of the film structure. This may be the reason for improved mechanical properties and reduced water vapour permeability of the films with increasing chitosan content.

Physicochemical Characterization of Novel Biomaterial Consisting of Biphasic Calcium Phosphate, Chitosan, Casein and Ethanolic Leaves Extract of Ormocarpum Cochinchinense.

Bioceramics are widely used as a biomaterial to promote bone regeneration. Bone defect management requires the placement of bone grafts. Though there are many bone grafts available, these have certain limitations like limited supply and second surgical site morbidity. Phytochemicals in plants are known to have bone regeneration capacity and are used in traditional medicine for bone fracture healing. The purpose of the study was to create a novel biomaterial consisting of a composite of biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP), chitosan (CH), casein (CA), and ethanolic leaves extract of Ormocarpum Cochinchinense (OC) fabricated and characterized for physicochemical properties. BCP-CH-CA-OC material was prepared and immersed in Simulated body fluid (SBF) for 21 days. Physical properties were analysed through X-Ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Spectroscopy (FTIR), and Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy dispersion spectroscopy (SEM/EDS). Mechanical properties were analysed by compressive strength and diametral tensile strength tests. Using BET (Brunauer-Emmett-Teller) analysis and Nano computed tomography (CT) scan, porosity measurements were made. XRD did not show any significant change after immersion in SBF, indicating that the material was not under change and is stable. FTIR showed an increase in chitosan content, due to the loss of casein. SEM analysis showed the deposition of crystals and porous structure. EDS showed the deposition of minerals. Nano CT and BET analysis showed clinically significant porosity of 30%. The mechanical and physical properties of this novel biomaterial could be used in tissue engineering for the repair of bone defects in non-load-bearing areas. The physicochemical properties are at par with other materials used for the purpose of bone grafting. The novel biomaterial has the potential to be used in bone regenerative medicine in non-load-bearing applications.

Effect of Composition and Freeze-Thaw on the Network Structure, Porosity and Mechanical Properties of Polyvinyl-Alcohol/Chitosan Hydrogels.

We report the synthesis and characterization of poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA)/Chitosan (CT) cryogels for applications involving the uptake and entrapment of particulate and bacterial colonies. In particular, we systematically investigated the network and pore structures of the gels as a function of CT content and for different freeze-thaw times, combining Small Angle X-Ray Scattering (SAXS), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and confocal microscopy. The nanoscale analysis obtained from SAXS shows that while the characteristic correlation length of the network is poorly affected by composition and freeze-thaw time, the characteristic size of heterogeneities associated with PVA crystallites decreases with CT content. SEM investigation evidences a transition to a more homogeneous network structure induced by the incorporation of CT that progressively builds a secondary network around the one formed by PVA. A detailed analysis of confocal microscopy image stacks allows to characterize the 3D porosity of the samples, revealing a significantly asymmetric shape of the pores. While the average volume of single pores increases with increasing CT content, the overall porosity remains almost unchanged as a result of the suppression of smaller pores in the PVA network with the progressive incorporation of the more homogeneous CT network. Increasing the freezing time in the FT cycles also results in a decrease of porosity, which can be associated with a growth in the crosslinking of the network due to PVA crystallization. The linear viscoelastic moduli measured by oscillatory rheology show a qualitatively comparable frequency-dependent response in all cases, with a moderate reduction with increasing CT content. This is attributed to changes in the structure of the strands of the PVA network.

Fabrication of drug-eluting polycaprolactone and chitosan blend microfibers for topical drug delivery applications

Chronic and non-healing wounds show delayed and incomplete healing process, which expose the patients to a high risk of infection. These types of wounds require frequent change of dressing, which is a burden on the patients. In addition, ideal dressing needs to meet the requirements in minimizing microbial infiltration and growth while balancing moisture and exchanging oxygen with outside environment. To overcome the challenge in frequent change of dressing and meet the design requirements, current researches have focused on the development of electrospun fibers with incorporation of small molecule drugs for sustained release purpose. In this study, electrospinning was performed to fabricate blend fibers consisting of 15 wt% of polycaprolactone (PCL) and 4 wt% of chitosan (CS) at various blend ratios with the incorporation of a model small molecule drug, acetylsalicylic acid (ASA). Results showed that fibers became more hydrophilic when increasing CS concentration from 0% to 60% in PCL/CS blank fibers. Increasing CS concentration decreased fiber diameter resulting in the decrease of fiber mechanical properties. Furthermore, the addition of 10% w/w ASA also made the fibers more hydrophilic and further decreased the fiber diameter. There were no linear relationships between CS concentrations and fiber mechanical properties in the drug-loaded samples, which indicated some level of drug-polymer interactions. Fiber mechanical properties and drug release rates were two major aspects indicative of strong and/or weak drug-polymer interactions. In vitro drug release in PBS buffer solution showed a burst profile of ASA (30%) up to 2 h followed by a zero-order release rate up to 2 days.

Formulation and evaluation of microspheres of anti-inflammatory drug diacerein prepared by ionotropic gelation method

The context of this research was to reduce the untoward effects of diacerein by preparing a microsphere formulation of the same. The ionotropic gelation method was adopted to prepare diacerein microspheres. This method involves the interaction of two ionic components under certain conditions. Among these two ionic components, at least one component must be a polymer. Simple interaction between ionic polymer with oppositely charged ion leads to the formation of microspheres. In this process, sodium alginate and Chitosan were used as polymers, whereas for the crosslinking process, calcium chloride was used. The prepared formulations of diacerein displayed mean particle size ranging from 106-542 µm, while the percentage yield ranged from 49-82. An increased concentration of calcium chloride and sodium alginate increases the particle size. However, an increased chitosan concentration was found to increase the drug entrapment efficiency of the microspheres. Further, phosphate buffer media (pH 6.8) in the USP paddle type dissolution apparatus were used for the percentage drug release study. Results showed that increased chitosan concentration slows the release of drugs from microspheres. We noted that the B3 formulation, which contains sodium alginate: Chitosan (1:3), showed the lowermost rate of drug release. Besides, SEM studies of the same formulation (B3) revealed that microspheres have spherical shapes with rough surfaces. It was observed that the B3 formulation showed a significant result in formulation evaluation studies; hence, it may be further considered an optimized formulation for preclinical evaluation

Development of cell adhesive and inherently antibacterial polyvinyl alcohol/polyethylene oxide nanofiber scaffolds via incorporating chitosan for tissue engineering

Currently, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and polyethylene oxide (PEO), as tissue engineering scaffolds materials, had been widely studied, however the hard issues in cell adhesive and antimicrobial properties still seriously limited their application in biomedical respects. Herein, we solved both hard issues by incorporating chitosan (CHI) into the PVA/PEO system, and successfully prepared PVA/PEO/CHI nanofiber scaffolds via electrospinning technology. First, the hierarchical pore structure and elevated porosity stacked by nanofiber of the nanofiber scaffolds supplied suitable space for cell growth. Significantly, the PVA/PEO/CHI nanofiber scaffolds (the cytotoxicity of grade 0) effectively improved cell adhesion by regulating the CHI content, and presented positively correlated with the CHI content. Besides, the excellent surface wettability of PVA/PEO/CHI nanofiber scaffolds exhibited maximum absorbability at a CHI content of 15 wt%. Based on the FTIR, XRD, and mechanical test results, we studied the semi-quantitative effect of hydrogen content on the aggregated state structure and mechanical properties of the PVA/PEO/CHI nanofiber scaffolds. The breaking stress of the nanofiber scaffolds increased with increasing CHI content, and the maximum value reached 15.37 MPa, increased by 67.61 %. Therefore, such dual biofunctional nanofiber scaffolds with improved mechanical properties showed great potential application in tissue engineering scaffolds.