Interconnected porous network of chitosan-gelatin cryogel particles prepared via the inverse Leidenfrost (iLF) effect

Cryogels are macroporous polymeric materials with significant potential in biomedical and environmental applications due to their elasticity, interconnected porosity, and structural resilience. However, cryogels composed solely of chitosan, a biopolymer valued for its biocompatibility, biodegradability, and antibacterial properties, suffer from mechanical instability. To address this limitation, we synthesized and characterized cryogels based on chitosan and its blends with gelatin (CH-G) and compared the results with those of chitosan-silk fibroin (CH-SF) cryogel and chitosan‑sodium alginate (CH-SA) cryogel. Cryogel particles were prepared via the inverse Leidenfrost (iLF) effect, and glutaraldehyde was employed as a cross-linking agent. By combining chitosan's structural backbone with gelatin's flexibility and biocompatibility, and stabilizing the network using glutaraldehyde crosslinking, we achieved cryogels with enhanced elasticity and a relatively high surface area compared to other cryogel systems (2.03 m²/g). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed a compact fibrous interconnected network, and nitrogen adsorption isotherms further confirmed the mesoporosity. Overall, these results demonstrate how polymer blending can be utilized to enhance the mechanical properties of cryogels for targeted functional applications.