Surface and thermal properties of collagen/hyaluronic acid blends containing chitosan

The structure and surface properties of binary and ternary blends containing collagen (Coll), hyaluronic acid (HA) and chitosan (Ch) were investigated by contact angle measurements, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Thin films of Coll/HA and Coll/HA/Ch blends have been formed by casting methods from aqueous acid solutions. The surface roughness, hydrophobic/hydrophilic character and thermal stability of Coll/HA were changed after addition of chitosan. Thermal stability of binary blends increase upon the addition of chitosan. The results of contact angle and the surface free energy revealed that hyaluronic acid films are more polar than collagen and chitosan films. The surface energy and its polar and dispersive components of binary and ternary blends were calculated and more hydrophilic films were produced by the addition of HA and chitosan, also resulting in more thermally stabile materials. These results demonstrate that collagen interacts with hyaluronic acid and chitosan changing the surface properties of polymer films.