Polyelectrolyte Complexation versus Ionotropic Gelation for Chitosan-Based Hydrogels with Carboxymethylcellulose, Carboxymethyl Starch, and Alginic Acid

Figure 7

SEM micrographs of hydrogel samples made of CMS 3.2% by (a) ionotropic gelation with CaCl₂ 1% w/w, (b) ionotropic gelation with CaCl₂ 4.9% w/v, (c) polyelectrolyte complexation with CS 0.01% w/v, and (d) ionotropic gelation and polyelectrolyte complexation (CaCl₂ 1% w/w). Scale (a, b) 400x and (c, d) 200x.

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)