Ultrathin chitin films for nanocomposites and biosensors

Chitin is the second most abundant biopolymer and insight into its natural synthesis, enzymatic degradation, and chemical interactions with other biopolymers is important for bioengineering with this renewable resource. This work is the first report of smooth, homogeneous, ultrathin chitin films, opening the door to surface studies of binding interactions, adsorption kinetics, and enzymatic degradation. The chitin films were formed by spincoating trimethylsilyl chitin onto gold or silica substrates, followed by regeneration to a chitin film. Infrared and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, ellipsometry, and atomic force microscopy were used to confirm the formation of smooth, homogeneous, and amorphous chitin thin films. Quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D) solvent exchange experiments showed these films swelled with 49% water by mass. The utility of these chitin films as biosensors was evident from QCM-D and surface plasmon resonance studies that revealed the adsorption of a bovine serum albumin monolayer.