Contrasting Effects of Chitosan Molecular Modifications on the Properties of Fish Gelatin Hydrogels
5 affiliations
- 1Kazan Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, FRC Kazan Scientific Center of RAS, Lobachevsky Str. 2/31, 420111 Kazan, Russia
- 2A.M. Butlerov Chemical Institute, Kazan Federal University, Lobachevsky Str. 1/29, 420008 Kazan, Russia
- 3Biophysics and Biotechnology Department, Voronezh State University, 1 Universitetskaya Square, 394018 Voronezh, Russia
- 4Institute of Electric Power Engineering and Electronics, Kazan State Power Engineering University, Krasnoselskaya Street 51, 420066 Kazan, Russia
- 5Institute of Natural Sciences and Technology, Murmansk Arctic University, 183010 Murmansk, Russia
Abstract
The limited water solubility of chitosan, which necessitates acidic conditions for its dissolution, restricts its application in food and pharmaceutical systems. To overcome this limitation, we chemically modified a chitosan molecule by introducing hydrophilic groups and compared three chitosan forms—unmodified chitosan, its quaternary ammonium derivative, and a graft copolymer with poly-N-vinylpyrrolidone, with respect to their effect on the structural and mechanical properties of fish gelatin hydrogels. An experimental study combining NMR relaxometry and water self-diffusion measurements, scanning electron microscopy, and rheology revealed a distinct supramolecular architecture of gelatin–chitosan hydrogel network for different chitosan modifications. The NMR data gave information on the molecular mobility of water as a marker of hydrogel structure to elucidate molecular basis for the observed rheological properties. Unmodified chitosan maximally reinforces gelatin network and enhances its thermorheological stability. Chitosan grafting with poly-N-vinylpyrrolidone produces a fine-pored xerogel structure with higher thermorheological stability, possibly through a non-cooperative reinforcement mechanism. The quaternary ammonium derivative results in a heterogeneous xerogel morphology with weak mechanical strength and low gel–sol transition temperature. These findings establish the structure–property correlation, demonstrating that chitosan modification governs the molecular network architecture and macroscopic performance of gelatin-based hydrogels, providing molecular-level insights into the behavior of fish gelatin–chitosan systems.
Related
- Synthesis and Study of the Properties of Dual-Substituted Amphiphilic Low-Molecular-Weight Chitosan Derivatives
- Chitosan‐Based Hydrogels for Periodontal Therapy: From Drug‐Polymer Chemistry to Smart Multifunctional and Regenerative Systems
- Spatial organization of magnetic nanoparticles in chitosan-gelatin hydrogels enables enhanced magnetic actuation and cell response under dynamic stimulation
- Immunohistochemical Insights into Enhanced Burn Wound Healing by Poly(vinyl alcohol)/Gentamicin and Poly(vinyl alcohol)/Chitosan/Gentamicin Hydrogels.
- Sono-enzymatically engineered tannic acid/doxycycline-lignin nanoparticles enable self-assembled bioactive chitosan hydrogels for chronic wound healing
BibTeX
@article{nikiforova2026contrasting,
title = {{Contrasting Effects of Chitosan Molecular Modifications on the Properties of Fish Gelatin Hydrogels}},
author = {Alena A. Nikiforova and Vladislav Abramov and Polina V. Skvortsova and Aydar A. Akhmadiyarov and Ilnaz T. Rakipov and Andrey V. Sorokin and Maria S. Lavlinskaya and Olga S. Zueva and Marina G. Holyavka and Svetlana R. Derkach and Yuriy F. Zuev},
journal = {International Journal of Molecular Sciences},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/ijms27209062},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/27/20/9062},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Contrasting Effects of Chitosan Molecular Modifications on the Properties of Fish Gelatin Hydrogels
AU - Alena A. Nikiforova
AU - Vladislav Abramov
AU - Polina V. Skvortsova
AU - Aydar A. Akhmadiyarov
AU - Ilnaz T. Rakipov
AU - Andrey V. Sorokin
AU - Maria S. Lavlinskaya
AU - Olga S. Zueva
AU - Marina G. Holyavka
AU - Svetlana R. Derkach
AU - Yuriy F. Zuev
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/13
JO - International Journal of Molecular Sciences
DO - 10.3390/ijms27209062
UR - https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/27/20/9062
AB - The limited water solubility of chitosan, which necessitates acidic conditions for its dissolution, restricts its application in food and pharmaceutical systems. To overcome this limitation, we chemically modified a chitosan molecule by introducing hydrophilic groups and compared three chitosan forms—unmodified chitosan, its quaternary ammonium derivative, and a graft copolymer with poly-N-vinylpyrrolidone, with respect to their effect on the structural and mechanical properties of fish gelatin hydrogels. An experimental study combining NMR relaxometry and water self-diffusion measurements, scanning electron microscopy, and rheology revealed a distinct supramolecular architecture of gelatin–chitosan hydrogel network for different chitosan modifications. The NMR data gave information on the molecular mobility of water as a marker of hydrogel structure to elucidate molecular basis for the observed rheological properties. Unmodified chitosan maximally reinforces gelatin network and enhances its thermorheological stability. Chitosan grafting with poly-N-vinylpyrrolidone produces a fine-pored xerogel structure with higher thermorheological stability, possibly through a non-cooperative reinforcement mechanism. The quaternary ammonium derivative results in a heterogeneous xerogel morphology with weak mechanical strength and low gel–sol transition temperature. These findings establish the structure–property correlation, demonstrating that chitosan modification governs the molecular network architecture and macroscopic performance of gelatin-based hydrogels, providing molecular-level insights into the behavior of fish gelatin–chitosan systems.
SN - 1422-0067
ER -