Chitosan-based hydrogel for magnetic particle coating

• DOI: 10.1016/j.reactfunctpolym.2019.104431
• Publication Date: 2019-11-15T20:14:55Z
• Authors: Vanessa de A. Per...; Irisvan S. Ribeiro; Haroldo C.B. Paula; Regina C.M. de Paula; Rubem Luis Sommer; Ruben Jesus Sanch...; Flavia O.M.S. Abreu
• Keywords: 02 engineering and technology; 0210 nano-technology

Abstract Magnetic particles coated with chitosan-based hydrogel were prepared and characterized by infrared spectroscopy, thermal analysis, atomic force microscopy (AFM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) and by vibrating sample magnetometry. A polyelectrolyte complex of chitosan (CH) and Sterculia striata gum (CHG) was employed as a coating. FT-IR analysis of the hydrogel obtained revealed the presence of main characteristic bands of CH, CHG and magnetite (Fe3O4). The thermograms showed a moderate efficiency of magnetite incorporation (26.0%) in the hydrogel, as well as evidence of interactions between functional groups of magnetite and biopolymers. Patterns of X-ray diffraction showed the presence of magnetite in the hydrogel with saturation magnetization of 36.5 emu g−1 and crystal average size of 20.8 nm. The hydrogel was found to present a negatively charged outer surface. EDX and AFM revealed that Fe3O4 nanoparticles were aggregated, forming large clusters. The CH /CHG hydrogel was shown to be suitable for magnetite coating, enabling its future application such as a drug carrier and a water remediation agent.