ABSTRACT
Nanocrystalline chitosan (NCC) is a modified form of chitosan, prepared from the method for obtaining chitosan acetate (CA). Due to the greater crystallinity of chitosan nanoparticles in relation to CA, NCC is more thermally stable and thus has great potential in the development of a new generation of biomaterials potentially useful in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. NCC is also characterized by having similar properties to its precursor chitosan, such as its biocompatibility, bioactivity, ability to be bioabsorbed and lack of toxicity. One of the major problems associated with obtaining NCC is the low productivity of the methods. While known methods of obtaining nanostructures produce small amounts (milligrams), the method of synthesis for creating NCC from its salt is often more productive and less costly, and is patented by the authors of this work (registration number: BR10201702272). Thus, the objective of this study was to characterize NCC obtained through this innovative method, and analyze its chemical and physical properties using Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and mechanical property analysis with the mean values for the elasticity module, the resistance to tensile strength and the tensile strength. The results indicate that this new process of obtaining the NCC did not modify the chemical structure of the chitosan. The structure of the film surface created was homogeneous and the mechanical properties emphasized the plastifying effect of glycerol under NCC. The thermogravimetric analysis of NCC indicated greater stability in the polysaccharide structure of the nanocrystalline, due to an increased crystalline region compared to the CA which was confirmed by DSC.
