Self-assembly of chitosan and cellulose chains into a 3D porous polysaccharide alloy films: Co-dissolving, structure and biological properties

• Published in: Applied surface science 2019-11, Vol.493, p.1032-1041
• Main Authors: Zhang, Ruihong, Xie, Jinyu, Yang, Binbin, Fu, Feiya, Tang, Haiyue, Zhang, Jingjing, Zhao, Yanteng, Zhang, Yanyan, Liu, Lin, Zhu, Yaofeng, Liu, Xiangdong, Zhou, Jinping, Yao, Juming
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alkali/urea solvent; Co-dissolution; Physicochemical properties; Polysaccharide alloy; Wound-healing
• ISSN: 0169-4332; 1873-5584
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2019.06.193

Blending of plant-based cellulose and marine-derived chitosan in micro-level has potential to make fascinating materials. However, this task is frequently hindered by the poor solubility of the polysaccharides. Here, using a green alkali/urea solvent media together with a well-designed dissolving strategy, original cellulose pulp and chitosan power were dispersed into a homogeneous solution. Driven by the intermolecular hydrogen-bond interaction, cellulose and chitosan chains were facially self-assembled into a unique 3D alloy structure. Owing to the rich interface interactions, the tensile strength and breaking elongation of the alloy film increased by 69% and 260%, respectively, when compared to a pure chitosan film. Besides, the 3D alloy films with a pore diameter of 920–1435 nm exhibited an extremely high cell viability which was higher than 95%. Additionally, accelerated wound healing rate of 95.6% reached in the presence of the alloy film after two weeks using a full-thickness wound in a rat model. [Display omitted] •Chitosan and cellulose were co-dissolved into one green alkali/urea solvent.•Polysaccharide chains were self-assembled into 3D porous alloy films.•Abundant interface interactions led to excellent physicochemical properties.•Biocompatibility and bioactivity of the alloy result in good wound healing.