Journal
SOFT MATTER
Volume 12, Issue 4, Pages 1200-1209Publisher
ROYAL SOC CHEMISTRY
DOI: 10.1039/c5sm02458g
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Funding
- Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) [SFRH/BD/81372/2011, SFRH/BPD/96797/2013]
- Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT)
- North Portugal Regional Operational Programme (ON. 2 - O Novo Norte), under the National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF), through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)
- [PTDC/FIS/115048/2009]
- Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia [PTDC/FIS/115048/2009] Funding Source: FCT
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The design of self-standing multilayered structures based on biopolymers has been attracting increasing interest due to their potential in the biomedical field. However, their use has been limited due to their gel-like properties. Herein, we report the combination of covalent and ionic cross-linking, using natural and non-cytotoxic cross-linkers, such as genipin and calcium chloride (CaCl2). Combining both cross-linking types the mechanical properties of the multilayers increased and the water uptake ability decreased. The ionic cross-linking of multilayered chitosan (CHI)-alginate (ALG) films led to freestanding membranes with multiple interesting properties, such as: improved mechanical strength, calcium-induced adhesion and shape memory ability. The use of CaCl2 also offered the possibility of reversibly switching all of these properties by simple immersion in a chelate solution. We attribute the switch-ability of the mechanical properties, shape memory ability and the propensity for induced-adhesion to the ionic cross-linking of the multilayers. These findings suggested the potential of the developed polysaccharide freestanding membranes in a plethora of research fields, including in biomedical and biotechnological fields.
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