Study of the interpolyelectrolyte reaction between chitosan and alginate: influence of alginate composition and chitosan molecular weight

Int J Biol Macromol. 2004 Apr;34(1-2):127-33. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2004.03.010.

Abstract

The interpolyelectrolyte reaction between chitosan (CHI) and alginate (ALG) was followed by conductimetry and potentiometry. Five chitosan samples, all with almost the same degree of N-acetylation (DA approximately 0.20) and molecular weights ranging from 5 x 10(3) to 2.5 x 10(5) Da were used. The polyelectrolyte complex was formed using alginate samples with three different M/G values (0.44, 1.31 and 1.96). The composition of the complex, Z (Z = [CHI]/[ALG]) resulted 0.70 +/- 0.02, independently of the molecular weight of chitosan and the composition of the alginate used. The degree of complexation was 0.51 with no dependence on the alginate composition.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alginates / chemistry*
  • Chitosan / chemistry*
  • Electrolytes / chemistry
  • Glucuronic Acid / chemistry*
  • Hexuronic Acids / chemistry*
  • Molecular Weight
  • Nitrous Acid / chemistry
  • Solutions

Substances

  • Alginates
  • Electrolytes
  • Hexuronic Acids
  • Solutions
  • Glucuronic Acid
  • Chitosan
  • Nitrous Acid