Water state characterization, swelling behavior, thermal and mechanical properties of chitosan based networks

Two kinds of chitosan-based hydrogels, a crosslinked chitosan reference gel and a chitosan-poly(ethylene oxide) semi-interpenetrating network (semi-IPN), with potential pH-sensitive swelling and drug delivery properties are characterized. Swelling studies were performed on the two kinds of hydrogels by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) at pH 1.2 and by the gravimetric method at pH 1.2 and pH 7.2. Both methods lead to similar results. If pH-dependent swelling properties were observed with both hydrogels, they were however improved for the semi-IPN. The amount of bound water in the xerogels could be determined from DSC measurements and a thermogravimetric analysis. The results obtained by both techniques were in good agreement and indicated that the semi-IPN contained more bound water than the reference gel probably due to the presence of the hydrophilic poly(ethylene oxide) chains. Young modulus of the swollen hydrogels was determined by indentation analysis. The semi-IPN displayed improved mechanical properties compared to the reference gel.