Preparation and characterization of IPN hydrogels composed of chitosan and gelatin cross-linked by genipin

The interpenetrating polymer networks (IPN) hydrogels based on chitosan and gelatin using genipin as the cross-linker were prepared and characterized. The IPN formation of the genipin-cross-linked chitosan/gelatin hydrogel was confirmed by means of the instrinsic viscosity measurement, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the ninhydrin assays. The instrinsic viscosity measurement, FT-IR and SEM suggested that chitosan and gelatin were miscible in the molecular level. The miscibility leads to the formation of IPN after cross-linking. FT-IR also examined the cross-linking mechanism of genipin with primary amino groups. The degree of cross-linking increased with increase genipin concentration. Swelling results revealed that the IPN hydrogels are pH-sensitive, exhibiting reversibility and rather rapidly response in swelling to pH changes. It is expected this IPN hydrogel has potential as controlled drug delivery system or as alternative sorbents for biomedical and environmental use as pH altered.