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Chitosan–Gelatin Films: Plasticizers/Nanofillers Affect Chain Interactions and Material Properties in Different Ways

Lookup NU author(s): Professor David XieORCiD

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).


Abstract

Biopolymers, which are biodegradable and inherently functional, have high potential for specialized applications (e.g., disposable and transient systems and biomedical treatment). For this, it is important to create composite materials with precisely defined chain interactions and tailored properties. This work shows that for a chitosan–gelatin material, both glycerol and isosorbide are effective plasticizers, but isosorbide could additionally disrupt the polyelectrolyte complexation (PEC) between the two biopolymers, which greatly impacts the glass transition temperature (Tg), mechanical properties, and water absorption. While glycerol-plasticized samples without nanofiller or with graphene oxide (GO) showed minimal water uptake, the addition of isosorbide and/or montmorillonite (MMT) made the materials hydrolytically unstable, likely due to disrupted PEC. However, these samples showed an opposite trend in surface hydrophilicity, which means surface chemistry is controlled differently from chain structure. This work highlights different mechanisms that control the different properties of dual-biopolymer systems and provides an updated definition of biopolymer plasticization, and thus could provide important knowledge for the future design of biopolymer composite materials with tailored surface hydrophilicity, overall hygroscopicity, and mechanical properties that meet specific application needs.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Duan Q, Chen Y, Yu L, Xie F

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Polymers

Year: 2022

Volume: 14

Issue: 18

Online publication date: 11/09/2022

Acceptance date: 06/09/2022

Date deposited: 19/09/2022

ISSN (print): 2073-4360

ISSN (electronic): 2073-4360

Publisher: MDPI

URL: https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14183797

DOI: 10.3390/polym14183797


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Funding

Funder referenceFunder name
22178124
202102080150
B17018

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