A facile method for preparation of green and antibacterial hydrogel based on chitosan and water-soluble 2,3-dialdehyde cellulose

Chitosan (CS) has been widely used to prepare natural hydrogel duo to its characteristics. However, most of the methods of preparing CS-based hydrogel are complicated and not green, which limits its further application. In this work, a green and antibacterial CS-based hydrogel was prepared by simple Schiff base reaction between CS and water-soluble 2,3-dialdehyde cellulose (DAC) obtained by simple heat treatment of DAC of high oxidation degree. The effect of DAC dosage on the properties of hydrogel, including water content, swelling behavior, water retention, hydrogel strength and viscoelasticity, was evaluated. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, elemental analysis and thermogravimetric analysis were employed to characterize the hydrogel. The antibacterial activity of hydrogels against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus was confirmed in vitro experiments. The green and antibacterial CS-based hydrogel prepared with this facile strategy would be a promising candidate for the application in the area of biomedicine, food storage, etc. [GRAPHICS] .

Automated summary

Chitosan-based hydrogels with antibacterial properties were successfully prepared using a green and simple method in this study. The hydrogels showed promising potential for applications in biomedicine and food storage, as confirmed by their antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus.