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Chitosan-poly(acrylic acid) polyelectrolyte complex membranes: preparation, characterization and permeability
H C L de Oliveira1, J L C Fonseca, M R Pereira
1Chemistry Department, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Campus Universitário, Lagoa Nova, Natal RN, CEP 59078-970, Brazil.
Journal of Biomaterials Science. Polymer Edition
|February 2, 2008
Summary
Chitosan and poly(acrylic acid) polyelectrolyte complex membranes were developed. The ChiPAA3.5 membrane exhibited enhanced hydrophilicity and drug retention, showing potential for drug delivery applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Chitosan (Chi) and poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) are oppositely charged polymers with potential for creating functional membranes.
- Polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs) offer tunable properties for various applications, including drug delivery.
- Understanding the influence of preparation parameters on PEC membrane characteristics is crucial for optimizing performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize and characterize polyelectrolyte complex membranes from chitosan and poly(acrylic acid).
- To investigate the effect of formic acid concentration on PAA dissociation and PEC membrane properties.
- To evaluate the swelling, mechanical, and drug permeability characteristics of the developed membranes using sodium sulphamerazine as a model drug.
Main Methods:
- Preparation of chitosan membranes and chitosan-poly(acrylic acid) polyelectrolyte complex membranes with varying PAA concentrations.
- Characterization using Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM).
- Assessment of swelling behavior, mechanical properties, and drug permeability of the membranes.
Main Results:
- Polyelectrolyte complex formation was confirmed by FT-IR spectroscopy.
- PEC membranes exhibited increased hydrophilicity compared to pure chitosan, with ChiPAA3.5 showing the highest water uptake.
- Morphological changes were observed upon PAA addition, influencing mechanical rigidity and tensile strength. Permeability decreased with complex formation, and ChiPAA3.5 demonstrated higher drug retention capacity.
Conclusions:
- Chitosan-poly(acrylic acid) polyelectrolyte complex membranes can be successfully prepared with tunable properties.
- The concentration of formic acid used in PAA solution significantly impacts PAA dissociation and subsequent membrane characteristics.
- The ChiPAA3.5 membrane shows promising potential for drug retention applications due to its enhanced hydrophilicity and morphology.
