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Updated: Apr 5, 2026
Preparation and Characterization of SDF-1α-Chitosan-Dextran Sulfate Nanoparticles
Published on: January 22, 2015
Fine microstructure of processed chitosan nanofibril networks preserving directional packing and high molecular
Anayancy Osorio-Madrazo1, Laurent David2, Carlos Peniche-Covas3
1Institute of Microsystems Engineering IMTEK-Sensors, Albert Ludwig University of Freiburg, D-79110 Freiburg, Germany; Department of Biomaterials, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Science Park Golm, D-14424 Potsdam, Germany.
Abstract:
Crystalline chitosan nanofibril networks were prepared, preserving the native structural packing and the polymer high molecular weight. The fine microstructure of the nanomaterial, obtained by mild hydrolysis of chitosan (CHI), was characterized by using synchrotron small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS and WAXS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and electron diffraction. Hydrolysis of chitosan yielded a network of crystalline nanofibrils, containing both allomorphs of chitosan: hydrated and anhydrous. The comparison of WAXS data in transmission and reflection mode revealed the preferential orientation of the CHI crystals when subjected to mechanical compression constrains. The results are in agreement with the existence of a network nanostructure containing fiber-like crystals with the principal axis parallel to the polymer chain axis. The evolution of the CHI allomorphic composition with temperature was studied to further elucidate the mechanism of structural transitions occurring during CHI nanofibril network processing.
