Preparation of Gelatin and Chitosan Hydrogels Beads

Abstract

Inthis study, a series of gelatin and chitosan hydrogel beads were prepared viacovalently crosslinking of these polymers. At the first step, three types ofgelatin beads were obtained by dropping polymer solution into Glutaraldehyde(GA)-oil emulsion. While the concentration of polymer solution was varied from7% to 14%, the concentration of crosslinking solution kept constant. Secondly,two types of chitosan beads were prepared by ionic gelation interactionprocedure using Sodium Tripolyphosphate (TPP) as crosslinker. 1% of polymersolution was dropped into TPP solutions at different concentrations. At thelast step, the different series of gelatin hydrogels were prepared by cuttingthe crosslinked polymer roads to form beads. Swelling behaviors of all the hydrogel beads were studied by changingtime at constant temperature and pH. Swelling percentages (S%) increased withtime initially, and then remained constant at close to 24 h. In general, it wasdetermined that the gelatin hydrogel beads were much more swellable than thechitosan beads.