Thermal and mechanical properties of UV irradiated collagen/chitosan thin films

The thermal and mechanical properties of collagen/chitosan blends before and after UV irradiation have been investigated using thermal analysis and mechanical (Instron) techniques. Comparisons were made with the thermal and mechanical properties of both collagen and chitosan films. Air-dried collagen, chitosan and collagen/chitosan films were exposed to UV irradiation (wavelength 254 nm) for different time intervals. Thermal properties of collagen/chitosan blends depend on the composition of the blend and are not significantly altered by UV irradiation.Mechanical properties such as ultimate tensile strength and ultimate percentage of elongation were much better for collagen films than for collagen/chitosan films. The results have shown that the mechanical properties of the blends were greatly affected by the duration of UV irradiation. Ultimate tensile strength and ultimate percentage elongation decreased after UV irradiation of the blend. Increasing UV irradiation leads to an increase in Young's modulus of the collagen/chitosan blend.     

Preparation and modification of collagen-based porous scaffold for tissue engineering

In the effort to generate cartilage tissues using mesenchymal stem cells, porous scaffolds with prescribed biomechanical properties were prepared. Scaffolds with interconnected pores were prepared via lyophilisation of frozen hydrogels made from collagen modified with chitosan nanofibres, hyaluronic acid, copolymers based on poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), and itaconic acid (ITA), and hydroxyapatite nanoparticles. The modified collagen compositions were cross-linked using N-(3-dimethylamino propyl)-N′-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC) combined with N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) in water solution. Basic physicochemical and mechanical properties were measured and an attempt to relate these properties to the molecular and supermolecular structure of the modified collagen compositions was carried out. Scaffolds containing hydrophilic chitosan nanofibres showed the highest swelling ratio (SR = 20–25) of all the materials investigated, while collagen modified with an amphiphilic PLGA-PEG-PLGA copolymer or functionalised with ITA exhibited the lowest swelling ratio (SR = 5–8). The best resistance to hydrolytic degradation was obtained for hydroxyapatite containing scaffolds. On the other hand, the fastest degradation rate was observed for synthetic copolymer-containing scaffolds. The results showed that the addition of hydroxyapatite or hyaluronic acid to the collagen matrix increases the rigidity in comparison to the collagen-chitosan scaffold. Collagen scaffold modified with hyaluronic acid presented reduced deformation at break while the presence of hydroxypatatite enhanced the scaffold deformation under tensile loading. The tensile elastic modulus of chitosan nanofibre collagen scaffold was the lowest but closest to the articular cartilage; however, the strength and deformation to failure increased up to 200 %. Presented at the 1st Bratislava Young Polymer Scientists Workshop, Bratislava, 20–23 August 2007.     

Synergistic Properties of Arabinogalactan (AG) and Hyaluronic Acid (HA) Sodium Salt Mixtures

The properties of mixtures of two polysaccharides, arabinogalactan (AG) and hyaluronic acid (HA), were investigated in solution by the measurement of diffusion coefficients D of water protons by DOSY (Diffusion Ordered SpectroscopY), by the determination of viscosity and by the investigation of the affinity of a small molecule molecular probe versus AG/HA mixtures in the presence of bovine submaxillary mucin (BSM) by ¹HNMR spectroscopy. Enhanced mucoadhesive properties, decreased mobility of water and decreased viscosity were observed at the increase of AG/HA ratio and of total concentration of AG. This unusual combination of properties can lead to more effective and long-lasting hydration of certain tissues (inflamed skin, dry eye corneal surface, etc.) and can be useful in the preparation of new formulations of cosmetics and of drug release systems, with the advantage of reducing the viscosity of the solutions.     

Surface properties of chitosan composites with poly(<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-vinylpyrrolidone) and montmorillonite

Surface properties of composites containing chitosan (Ch) with poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) and montmorillonite (MMT) additives were investigated by contact angle measurements, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and tensile tests. Composites were obtained by drop casting suspensions of montmorillonite (1 wt % relative to chitosan) and polymer (1 wt %) in 0.1 mol/dm³ acetic acid. Contact angle measurements for diiodomethane (D) and glycerol (G) on the surfaces of the chitosan films, PVP and their composite films were made; surface free energies were also calculated. It was found that the PVP/MMT or Ch/PVP/MMT blend surface is enriched with a high surface energy component, i.e., polyvinylpyrrolidone. The roughness of chitosan composites increases after the addition of montmorillonite; this may indicate an increase in the heterogeneity of this composition in comparison to other compositions. The TGA thermograms and mass loss percentages at different decomposition temperatures showed that the thermal stability of the binary composite slightly increases upon the addition of polyvinylpyrrolidone. The mechanical properties such as tensile strength and Young modulus depend on the composition and varied non-uniformly.     

Loading behavior of {chitosan/hyaluronic acid}n layer-by-layer assembly films toward myoglobin: an electrochemical study

When {CS/HA}n layer-by-layer films assembled by oppositely charged chitosan (CS) and hyaluronic acid (HA) were immersed in myoglobin (Mb) solution at pH 5.0, Mb was gradually loaded into the {CS/HA}n films, designated as {CS/HA}n-Mb. The cyclic voltammetric (CV) peak pair of Mb FeIII/FeII redox couple for {CS/HA}n-Mb films on pyrolytic graphite (PG) electrodes was used to investigate the loading behavior of {CS/HA}n films toward Mb. The various influencing factors, such as the number of bilayers (n), the pH of Mb loading solution, and the ionic strength of solution, were investigated by different electrochemical methods and other techniques. The results showed that the main driving force for the bulk loading of Mb was most probably the electrostatic interaction between oppositely charged Mb in solution and HA in the films, while other interactions such as hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interaction may also play an important role. Other polyelectrolyte multilayer (PEM) films with different components were compared with {CS/HA}n films in permeability and Mb loading, and electroactive probes with different size and surface charge were compared in their incorporation into PEM films. The results suggest that due to the unique structure of CS and HA, {CS/HA}n films with relatively low charge density are packed more loosely and more easily swelled by water, and have better permeability, which may lead to the higher loading amount and shorter loading time for Mb. The protein-loaded PEM films provide a new route to immobilize redox proteins on electrodes and realize the direct electrochemistry of the proteins.     

Anomalous thickness evolution of multilayer films made from poly-L-lysine and mixtures of hyaluronic acid and polystyrene sulfonate

Using a mixture of polyanions or polycations offers a new way to control the properties of polyelectrolyte multilayer (PEM) films. The central issue of PEM films made from blended polyelectrolyte solutions is the relation between the properties of the blended architecture and the properties of the films made from each pure component. Two situations are possible: either (i) the properties of the blended films are intermediate between those corresponding to the single components or (ii) new effects may emerge leading, for instance, to improved mechanical properties. Situation (i) is expected when the chemical natures of both polyelectrolytes from the blended mixture are close, whereas situation (ii) is more probable when the polyelectrolytes from the blend are very different. In this study, we focus on the buildup of PEM films made by the alternate spray deposition of a polyanion blend [a mixture of polystyrene-4-sulfonate (PSS) and hyaluronic acid (HA) in different mass fractions] and a polycation solution of poly-L-lysine (PLL). Whereas (HA-PLL) films exhibit a strong exponential growth with the number of deposition steps, the (PSS-PLL) system is only weakly exponential. We find that when the composition of the polyanion blend ranges from pure (HA-PLL) to pure (PSS-PLL), the films can always be constructed. However, the polyanion composition of the films is far from that of the polyanion solutions used for the buildup. One observes a strong preference for the incorporation of PSS over HA into the films. Moreover, the most striking feature is that the film thickness does not evolve monotonously with the polyanion solution composition but passes through a sharp minimum for a polyanion solution containing 90-95% HA. A possible mechanism for this peculiar finding is proposed.     

聚合物复合物层层组装膜的高效负载及大分子和小分子药物的差别性释放

基于聚合物复合物和层层组装技术实现了大分子药物硫酸软骨素和小分子药物头孢曲松钠在聚合物膜中的高效负载以及差别性释放. 壳聚糖(CHI)和大分子药物硫酸软骨素(CSS)通过静电相互作用力复合, 制备了壳聚糖-硫酸软骨素复合物(CHI-CSS). 以CHI-CSS复合物和透明质酸(HA)为构筑基元, 通过层层组装构筑负载有硫酸软骨素的聚合物复合物膜. 利用后扩散的负载方法将小分子药物头孢曲松钠(CTX)负载到聚合物膜中, 从而实现大分子和小分子2种药物在聚合物膜中的负载. 聚合物膜中负载的CTX和CSS在生理条件下具有快慢不同的差别性释放动力学特性, CTX在6 h内快速释放, 而CSS长效缓释长达14 d. 快速释放的抗生素CTX能够有效抑制细菌感染, 而酶降解作用下缓慢释放的CSS可促进伤口愈合, 在包括头颈外科在内的外科术后感染防治领域有良好应用前景.     

Characterization of silk fibroin/hyaluronic acid polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) films

This study aimed the characterization of the films casted from the aqueous mixtures of the pH induced complexes between silk fibroin (SF) and hyaluronic acid (HA). The insoluble and transparent films were subjected to scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses to show the morphological changes. Thermal analysis of complex films was determined by a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). The changes in the crystalline state were monitored by X-ray diffractometer (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). It was shown that the complexation between HA and SF was dominantly induced by pH. It was shown that the complex films comprised mixtures of crystalline and non-crystalline regions.     

Characterization of scaffolds based on chitosan and collagen with glycosaminoglycans

Scaffolds based on chitosan (CTS), collagen (Coll), and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) cross-linked by N-(3-dimethylamino propyl)-N′-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC) and N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) mixture were obtained with the use of the freeze-drying method. They were characterized by different analyses, e.g. mechanical and swelling tests, porosity, and density measurement. Moreover, the scaffolds behavior in cell culture was examined with human osteosarcoma SaOS-2 cells. The results showed that the scaffolds based on CTS, Coll, and GAGs cross-linked by EDC/NHS present physicochemical properties appropriate for biomedical purposes. They show porosity above 90% and are highly swellable. The increasing GAGs content improves the attachment and survival of cells on the obtained scaffolds. It can be assumed that scaffolds based on CTS and Coll, GAGs-enriched and cross-linked by EDC/NHS addition are biocompatible, and have properties appropriate for the tissue engineering purposes.     

Chitosan–hyaluronic acid hybrid film as a novel wound dressing: in vitro and in vivo studies

Wound dressing with high quality is a kind of highly demanded wound‐repairing products. In this article, chitosan (CS) and hyaluronic acid (HA) were used to fabricate a novel wound dressing. CS/HA composite films with high transparency could be fabricated on glass or poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) substrates, but not on poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) plate. Along with the increase of HA amount, the resulting films became rougher as detected by atomic force microscopy (AFM). Increased also are water contact angle and water‐uptake ratio. By contrast, increase of the HA amount weakened the water vapor permeability (WVP), bovine albumin adsorption, and fibroblast adhesion, which are desirable characteristics for wound dressing. In vivo animal test revealed that compared with the vaseline gauge the CS/HA film could more effectively accelerate the wound healing, and reduce the occurrence of re‐injury when peeling off the dressing again. These results demonstrate that the CS mixed with a little amount of HA may produce inexpensive wound dressing with good properties for practical applications. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Bioactive Phenylboronic Acid-Functionalized Hyaluronic Acid Hydrogels Induce Chondro-Aggregates and Promote Chondrocyte Phenotype

Hydrogels are extensively investigated as biomimetic extracellular matrix (ECM) scaffolds in tissue engineering. The physiological properties of ECM affect cellular behaviors, which is an inspiration for cell-based therapies. Photocurable hyaluronic acid (HA) hydrogel (AHAMA-PBA) modified with 3-aminophenylboronic acid, sodium periodate, and methacrylic anhydride simultaneously is constructed in this study. Chondrocytes are then cultured on the surface of the hydrogels to evaluate the effect of the physicochemical properties of the hydrogels on modulating cellular behaviors. Cell viability assays demonstrate that the hydrogel is non-toxic to chondrocytes. The existence of phenylboronic acid (PBA) moieties enhances the interaction of chondrocytes and hydrogel, promoting cell adhesion and aggregation through filopodia. RT-PCR indicates that the gene expression levels of type II collagen, Aggrecan, and Sox9 are significantly up-regulated in chondrocytes cultured on hydrogels. Moreover, the mechanical properties of the hydrogels have a significant effect on the cell phenotype, with soft gels (≈2 kPa) promoting chondrocytes to exhibit a hyaline phenotype. Overall, PBA-functionalized HA hydrogel with low stiffness exhibits the best effect on promoting the chondrocyte phenotype, which is a promising biomaterial for cartilage regeneration.     

Effect of immobilization of polysaccharides on the biocompatibility of poly(butyleneadipate‐co‐terephthalate) films

Aiming to improve the hydrophilicity, antibacterial activity, cytocompatibility, and hemocompatibility of poly(butyleneadipate‐co‐terephthalate) (PBAT) films, PBAT films were treated with ozone, grafted with chitosan (CS), and followed by covalent immobilization of either heparin (HEP) or hyaluronic acid (HA). The surface graft density of modified PBAT films was detected by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and dyeing. The surface roughness of PBAT films was measured using an atomic force microscope (AFM). After immobilizing CS, PBAT films acquired antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The adsorption of human serum albumin (HSA) and human plasma fibrinogen (HPF) on PBAT–CS–HEP and PBAT–CS–HA films was lower compared to that of native PBAT. Moreover, HEP immobilization could effectively reduce platelet adhesion and prolong the blood coagulation time, thereby improving the blood compatibility of PBAT. In addition, the growth of L929 fibroblasts was improved for HEP or HA immobilized PBAT, suggesting this surface modification was non‐cytotoxic. Furthermore, PBAT–CS–HEP and PBAT–CS–HA exhibited higher cell proliferation than native PBAT. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Polysaccharide films built by simultaneous or alternate spray: a rapid way to engineer biomaterial surfaces

We investigated polysaccharide films obtained by simultaneous and alternate spraying of a chitosan (CHI) solution as polycation and hyaluronic acid (HA), alginate (ALG), and chondroitin sulfate (CS) solutions as polyanions. For simultaneous spraying, the film thickness increases linearly with the cumulative spraying time and passes through a maximum for polyanion/CHI molar charge ratios lying between 0.6 and 1.2. The size of polyanion/CHI complexes formed in solution was compared with the simultaneously sprayed film growth rate as a function of the polyanion/CHI molar charge ratio. A good correlation was found. This suggests the importance of polyanion/polycation complexation in the simultaneous spraying process. Depending on the system, the film topography is either liquid-like or granular. Film biocompatibility was evaluated using human gingival fibroblasts. A small or no difference is observed in cell viability and adhesion between the two deposition processes. The CHI/HA system appears to be the best for cell adhesion inducing the clustering of CD44, a cell surface HA receptor, at the membrane of cells. Simultaneous or alternate spraying of CHI/HA appears thus to be a convenient and fast procedure for biomaterial surface modifications.     

The comparison of physic-chemical properties of chitosan/collagen/hyaluronic acid composites with nano-hydroxyapatite cross-linked by dialdehyde starch and tannic acid

Scaffolds based on chitosan, collagen and hyaluronic acid, cross-linked by dialdehyde starch with hydroxyapatite were obtained with the use of the freeze-drying method. Scaffolds were cross-linked by tannic acid or dialdehyde starch addition. Composites were characterized by different analyses, e.g. SEM images, porosity, density, liquid uptake, and mechanical tests. In addition, the adhesion and proliferation of human osteosarcoma SaOS-2 cells were examined on the obtained scaffolds.The results showed that the properties of the scaffolds based on chitosan, collagen, and hyaluronic acid can be modified by cross-linkers addition. The compressive modulus for the scaffolds cross-linked by dialdehyde starch was higher than for those cross-linked by tannic acid. The porosity of scaffolds cross-linked by starch was higher than those in which tannic acid was applied. However, the former presented lower density. SEM images showed the homogeneous scaffold structure with interconnected pores. Scaffolds cross-linked by tannic acid exhibited higher biocompatibility than those cross-linked by dialdehyde starch. However, the results showed that both scaffolds, cross-linked by dialdehyde starch and by tannic acid can provide the support required in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. The scaffolds presented here may be easily operated to fit such small bone defects without causing adverse reactions.     

Characterisation of Hyaluronic Acid Blends Modified by Poly(N-Vinylpyrrolidone)

The viscosity behaviour and physical properties of blends containing hyaluronic acid (HA) and poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) were studied by the viscometric technique, steady shear tests, tensile tests and infrared spectroscopy. Viscometric and rheological measurements were carried out using blends of HA/PVP with different HA weight fractions (0, 0.2, 0.5, 0.8 and 1). The polymer films and HA/PVP blend films were prepared using the solution casting method. The study of HA blends by viscometry showed that HA/PVP was miscible with the exception of the blend with high HA content. HA and its blends showed a shear-thinning flow behaviour. The non-Newtonian indices (n) of HA/PVP blends were calculated by the Ostwald–de Waele equation, indicating a shear-thinning effect in which pseudoplasticity increased with increasing HA contents. Mechanical properties, such as tensile strength and elongation at the break, were higher for HA/PVP films with w_HA = 0.5 compared to those with higher HA contents. The elongation at the break of HA/PVP blend films displayed a pronounced increase compared to HA films. Moreover, infrared analysis confirmed the existence of interactions between HA and PVP. The blending of HA with PVP generated films with elasticity and better properties than homopolymer films.     

The influence of UV irradiation on the properties of chitosan films containing keratin

The mechanical, thermal and surface properties of chitosan and chitosan containing keratin hydrolysates have been studied and the influence of UV irradiation on these properties has been compared. The surface properties of chitosan films containing 5%, 15% and 30% of keratin hydrolysate before and after UV irradiation (λ = 254 nm) were investigated by means of contact angle measurements allowing the calculation of surface free energy. The chemical and structural changes during UV irradiation were studied by UV-vis and FTIR-ATR spectroscopy.The changes in mechanical properties such as breaking strength, percentage elongation and Young’s modulus have been investigated. The results have shown that the mechanical properties of the chitosan/keratin films were greatly affected by UV irradiation, but the level of the changes of these properties was smaller in the blend than in pure chitosan and strongly dependent on the time of irradiation and composition of the samples. The contact angle and the surface free energy were altered by UV irradiation, which indicates photooxidation and an increase of polarity of specimens. The range of these changes point to greater susceptibility of chitosan to photooxidation in the presence of keratin.     

Interaction between myoglobin and hyaluronic acid in their layer-by-layer assembly: quartz crystal microbalance and cyclic voltammetry studies

Myoglobin (Mb), with different net surface charges at different pH in buffers and negatively charged hyaluronic acid (HA) at pH 5.0 in solutions were alternately adsorbed onto various solid surfaces and successfully assembled into {Mb/HA}(n) layer-by-layer films. The Mb in {Mb/HA}(n) films showed a quasi-reversible cyclic voltammetry (CV) response for its heme Fe(III)/Fe(II) redox couple. Quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) and CV were used to confirm the film growth and characterize the films. The interaction between Mb and HA and the influencing factors for Mb adsorption on HA surface, such as pH, Mb concentration, and ionic strength, were investigated in detail. The assembly driving force for {Mb/HA}(n) films, especially for the films assembled with like-charged Mb and HA, was found to be of electrostatic origin, while the secondary interaction such as hydrophobic interaction also plays an important role in some circumstances. Although the growth of {Mb(pH 7.0)/HA}(n) and {Mb(pH 9.0)/HA}(n) films was linear with the adsorption step, the exponential growth of {Mb(pH 5.0)/HA}(n) films was observed, especially when the films became thick. This exponential increase of mass and thickness with deposition step for {Mb(pH 5.0)/HA}(n) films was most probably attributed to the diffusion mechanism in which some HA molecules could diffuse in to and out of the whole films during the film assembly. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) results supported this speculation. UV-vis and IR spectroscopies of {Mb/HA}(n) films, combined with the comparative CV experiments of {Mb/HA}(n) and {catalase/HA}(n) films, suggest that Mb in the {Mb/HA}(n) multilayer films retains its near-native structure.     

Control of cell adhesion by mechanical reinforcement of soft polyelectrolyte films with nanoparticles

Chemical cross-linking is the standard approach to tune the mechanical properties of polymer coatings for cell culture applications. Here we show that the elastic modulus of highly swollen polyelectrolyte films composed of poly(L-lysine) (PLL) and hyaluronic acid (HA) can be changed by more than 1 order of magnitude by addition of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) in a one-step procedure. This hydrogel-nanoparticle architecture has great potential as a platform for advanced cell engineering application, for example remote release of drugs. As a first step toward utilization of such films for biomedical applications we identify the most favorable polymer/nanoparticle composition for optimized cell adhesion on the films. Using atomic force microscopy (AFM) we determine the following surface parameters that are relevant for cell adhesion, i.e., stiffness, roughness, and protein interactions. Optimized cell adhesion is observed for films with an elastic modulus of about 1 MPa and a surface roughness on the order of 30 nm. The analysis further shows that AuNPs are not incorporated in the HA/PLL bulk but form clusters on the film surface. Combined studies of the elastic modulus and surface topography indicate a cluster percolation threshold at a critical surface coverage above which the film stiffness drastically increases. In this context we also discuss changes in film thickness, material density and swelling ratio due to nanoparticle treatment.     

Supported lipid bilayers on biocompatible polysaccharide multilayers

Formation of supported lipid bilayers on soft polymer cushions is a useful approach to decouple the membrane from the substrate for applications involving membrane proteins. We prepared biocompatible polymer cushions by the layer-by-layer assembly of two polysaccharide polyelectrolytes, chitosan (CHI) and hyaluronic acid, on glass and silicon substrates. (CHI/HA)(5) films were characterized by atomic force microscopy, giving an average thickness of 57 nm and roughness of 25 nm in aqueous solution at pH 6.5. Formation of zwitterionic lipid bilayers by the vesicle fusion method was attempted using DOPC vesicles at pH 4 and 6.5 on (CHI/HA)(5) films. At higher pH adsorbed lipids had low mobility and large immobile lipid fractions; a combination of fluorescence and AFM indicated that this was attributable to formation of poor quality membranes with defects and pinned lipids rather than to a layer of surface-adsorbed vesicles. By contrast, more uniform bilayers with mobile lipids were produced at pH 4. Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching gave diffusion coefficients that were similar to those for bilayers on PEG cushions and considerably higher than those measured on other polyelectrolyte films. The results suggest that the polymer surface charge is more important than the surface roughness in controlling formation of mobile supported bilayers. These results demonstrate that polysaccharides provide a useful alternative to other polymer cushions, particularly for applications where biocompatibility is important.     

Effect of Different Crosslinking Strategies on Physical Properties and Biocompatibility of Freestanding Multilayer Films Made of Alginate and Chitosan

Freestanding multilayer films prepared by layer‐by‐layer technique have attracted interest as promising materials for wound dressings. The goal is to fabricate freestanding films using chitosan (CHI) and alginate (ALG) including subsequent crosslinking to improve the mechanical properties of films while maintaining their biocompatibility. Three crosslinking strategies are investigated, namely use of calcium ions for crosslinking ALG, 1‐ethyl‐3‐(‐3‐dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide combined with N‐hydroxysuccinimide for crosslinking ALG with CHI, and Genipin for crosslinking chitosan inside the films. Different characteristics, such as surface morphology, wettability, swelling, roughness, and mechanical properties are investigated showing that films became thinner, exhibited rougher surfaces, had lower water uptake, and increased mechanical strength after crosslinking. Changes of wettability are moderate and dependent on the crosslinking method. In vitro cytotoxicity and cell attachment studies with human dermal fibroblasts show that freestanding CHI‐ALG films represent a poorly adhesive substratum for fibroblasts, while studies using incubation of plastic‐adherent fibroblast beneath floating films show no signs of cytotoxicity in a time frame of 7 days. Results from cell experiments combined with film characteristics after crosslinking, indicate that crosslinked freestanding films made of ALG and CHI may be interesting candidates for wound dressings.