Chitosan‐alginate films prepared with chitosans of different molecular weights

Abstract Chitosan‐alginate polyelectrolyte complex (CS‐AL PEC) is water insoluble and more effective in limiting the release of encapsulated materials compared to chitosan or alginate. Coherent CS‐AL PEC films have been prepared in our laboratory by casting and drying suspensions of chitosan‐alginate coacervates. The objective of this study was to evaluate the properties of the CS‐AL PEC films prepared with chitosans of different molecular weights. Films prepared with low‐molecular‐weight chitosan ( M v 1.30 × 10 5 ) were twice as thin and transparent, as well as 55% less permeable to water vapor, compared to films prepared with high‐molecular‐weight chitosan ( M v 10.0 × 10 5 ). It may be inferred that the low‐molecular‐weight chitosan reacted more completely with the sodium alginate ( M v 1.04 × 10 5 ) than chitosan of higher molecular weight. A threshold molecular weight may be required, because chitosans of M v 10.0 × 10 5 and 5.33 × 10 5 yielded films with similar physical properties. The PEC films exhibited different surface properties from the parent films, and contained a higher degree of chain alignment with the possible formation of new crystal types. The PEC films exhibited good in vitro biocompatibility with mouse and human fibroblasts, suggesting that they can be further explored for biomedical applications. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res (Appl Biomater) 58: 358–365, 2001