Chitosan-poly(acrylic acid) polyelectrolyte complex membranes: preparation, characterization and permeability studies

Polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) membranes were obtained by mixing solutions of two polymers of opposite charges, chitosan (Chi) and poly(acrylic acid) PAA. Three membranes were obtained: one made of pure chitosan and two membranes with chitosan mixed with PAA at a ratio of 95:5 (one prepared using PAA solution in 3.5% formic acid, named ChiPAA3.5, and another one using a PAA solution in 10% formic acid, named ChiPAA10). The membranes were characterized by swelling experiments, FT-IR spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), mechanical properties and permeability studies in relation to a drug model (sodium sulphamerazine). The calculation of degree of ionization showed that the lower the formic acid concentration was, the higher the PAA dissociation degree. Polyelectrolyte complex formation was characterized by FT-IR. Water uptake results showed that PEC membranes were more hydrophilic than pure chitosan, ChiPAA3.5 being the most. Morphological analysis by SEM and AFM showed that PAA addition changed the membranes morphology, especially for ChiPAA3.5. Mechanical properties indicated that PEC membranes were more rigid than pure chitosan membranes and that the morphology has an influence on tensile strength values. Permeability values decreased with complex formation and were lower for ChiPAA10 than ChiPAA3.5. However, as drug concentration was increased, the difference between the two complex membranes disappeared. The results were discussed considering the drug-membrane interactions. Diffusion coefficient values indicated that ChiPAA3.5 had a higher drug retention capacity than ChiPAA10.