Imino-chitosan biopolymeric films. Obtaining, self-assembling, surface and antimicrobial properties

Abstract

The paper reports the preparation of twelve imino-chitosan biopolymer films by acid condensation of the amino groups of chitosan with various aldehydes, in aqueous medium, followed by slow water removal. FTIR spectroscopy has shown drastic conformation changes of chitosan macromolecular chains—from a stiff coil to a straight one, while wide angle X-ray diffraction evidenced a layered morphology of the biopolymer films. Contact angle and surface free energy determination indicated a higher biocompatibility of the new biopolymers as compared to the chitosan parent, while the microbiological screening demonstrated their self-defense properties against common and virulent pathogen agents. It was concluded that the reversibility of imine forming promotes the self-assembling of imino-chitosan biopolymer films into a lamellar morphology and, on the other hand, the slow release of the antimicrobial aldehyde in the microbiological culture. The obtained results demonstrate that chitosan polyamine is a challenging workbench to functional biodynamic materials.

Keywords: Antimicrobial; Chitosan; Film; Imine; Self-assembling; Trans-imination.