Formation of Polyelectrolyte Complexes from Chitosan and Alkaline Gelatin
Voron’ko Nicolay, Sokolan Nina, Kuchina Yuliya, Berestova Galina
Abstract
The interaction of chitosan and alkaline gelatin biopolymers in formation of polyelectrolyte complexes has been studied by the Fourier IR spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Also the influence of chitosan on the morphology of gelatin hydrogels has been observed. It has been shown that in the range of chitosan (C)/gelatin (G) (w/w) ratio Z = g= gC/gG from 0.1 to 1.5, chitosan–gelatin complexes are formed due to electrostatic interactions of charges amino-groups of chitosan and carboxylic groups of gelatin as well as due to intermolecular hydrogen bonds. In this case, the share of collagen-like triple helices in the spatial network of hydrogel decreases. The formation of chitosan–gelatin complexes leads to the qualitative changes in the hydrogel morphology even at low ratios of biopolymer (at Z = 0.025 gC/gG). The fiber-like structure of gelatin gels transforms and less structured but denser zones appear in the gel network.