Chitosan is a linear, natural cationic polysaccharide comprising beta-1,4 linked glucosamine and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine. Hydrogels of chitosan were prepared by crosslinking with varying amounts of glutaraldehyde. It can be used as a bacteriostatic, fungistatic and coating agent, and the gels and suspensions may play the role of carriers for slow release or controlled delivery of drugs, as an immobilizing medium and an encapsulation material.
Material and methods: Chitosan and glutaraldehyde were used to prepare the hydrogels and their characteristics were investigated by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and the inhibitory effect on cellular growth was tested by chemiluminescence assay. The hemolytic activity was also determined by direct contact with human blood and the concentration of hemoglobin was spectrophotometrically measured.
Results and discussion: Chitosan hydrogels have no inhibitory effect on cell growth, and hemolytic action below 1%, which means good blood compatibility; therefore they are promising materials.