Chitosan is one of the most widely used structural polymers for biomedical applications because it has many favorable properties. However, one of the most critical drawbacks regarding the use of chitosan as a biomedical material is its poor mechanical properties in wet conditions. Here, we designed a method to improve the mechanical properties of chitosan in wet conditions and minimized the swelling behavior of chitosan film due to water adsorption by mimicking the sclerotization of insect cuticles and squid beaks, i.e., catechol-meditated cross-linking. The biomimetic chitosan composite film was prepared by mixing chitosan with L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) as a catecholic cross-linker and sodium periodate as an oxidant. The catechol-meditated cross-linking provided a 7-fold enhancement in the stiffness in wet conditions compared to pure chitosan films and reduced the swelling behavior of the chitosan film. This strategy expands the possible applications for the use of chitosan composites as load-bearing biomaterials.
저자
Dongyeop X. Oh [ School of Environmental Science and Engineering Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang ]
Dong Soo Hwang [ School of Environmental Science and Engineering Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang ]
본 학회는 화학, 생화학, 분자생물학, 미생물학, 식품공학, 의학, 약학, 유전공학 및 생물공학, 환경 및 기타 공업 등 전 분야의 탄수화물관련 이론과 기술을 연구 발전시키고 산학협동을 통해 이를 보급하여 국내 관련 산업의 발전 및 국민생활의 과학화에 기여하고자 하며, 이러한 목표와 비젼의 실현을 위해 회원들이 적극적인 참여와 활동을 전개하고자 한다.