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Preparation of Biopolymer Aerogels Using Green Solvents
Published on: July 4, 2016
17.8K
Eco-friendly development of sterile chitosan-based aerogels for wound dressing applications using integrated scCO2
Cristiana S A Bento1, José P Ruivo1, Susana Alarico2
1University of Coimbra, CERES, Department of Chemical Engineering, 3030-790 Coimbra, Portugal.
International Journal of Pharmaceutics
|August 5, 2025
Summary
This study presents a green method for creating sterile chitosan aerogels using supercritical CO2 drying. These advanced wound dressings can be loaded with active pharmaceutical ingredients, offering a promising solution for biomedical applications.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Materials Engineering
- Green Chemistry
Background:
- Developing eco-friendly wound dressings from biopolymers is hindered by processing and sterilization challenges.
- Supercritical CO2 (scCO2) drying offers an efficient, sustainable method for producing sterile materials with high surface area and porosity, preserving crucial properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce a novel integrated process for producing sterile chitosan (CS) aerogels crosslinked with tripolyphosphate (TPP) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA).
- To investigate the tunability of CS-aerogel properties based on TPP crosslinking degree and the impact of PVA addition.
- To develop a green method for fabricating sterile, active pharmaceutical ingredient (API)-loaded aerogels for biomedical applications.
Main Methods:
- An integrated process involving high-pressure solvent exchange, scCO2 drying and sterilization, and API impregnation was developed.
- Chitosan (CS) aerogels were crosslinked with varying concentrations of tripolyphosphate (TPP) and with or without polyvinyl alcohol (PVA).
- Properties including surface area, porosity, swelling, mechanical strength, and cytotoxicity were evaluated.
Main Results:
- Aerogel properties were tunable based on TPP crosslinking degree; CS-TPP2.5% aerogel showed optimal mechanical properties (4.93 ± 0.75 N), high surface area (190.80 ± 9.80 m2.g-1), and porosity (71.12 ± 1.41 %).
- PVA addition improved structural homogeneity and flexibility but decreased surface area and increased cytotoxicity.
- The integrated process successfully produced a sterile, naringin-loaded CS-based aerogel within a short timeframe.
Conclusions:
- The developed integrated process offers a green and efficient route for producing sterile, API-loaded chitosan aerogels.
- CS-TPP2.5% aerogels exhibit favorable properties for wound dressing applications.
- This approach holds significant potential for advancing sterile biomaterial development in biomedical fields.
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