Evaluation of surface and microstructure of differently plasticized chitosan films.

Surface and structural investigations of natural biopolymer (chitosan) films containing various conventionally applied hydrophilic plasticizers (glycerol and poly(ethylene glycol) 400) were performed and the results were compared, with the aim of acquiring new information concerning the formation of these plasticized films. The surface tests revealed that the water uptake, the water-binding properties (moisture content) and the polarity were higher for the film containing glycerol as plasticizer. Positronium lifetime measurements and NMR studies performed to evaluate the effects of the plasticizer on the polymer structure demonstrated relevant differences in the effects of the plasticizers. The influence of glycerol on the structure of the film formed was more intensive than that of PEG 400. It can be concluded that the surface properties of the films, which are very important for their storage and application, cannot be established exactly by means of structural tests. Both surface and structural tests must be performed before the formulation of this type of plasticized mucoadhesive films.