In Situ Viscoelasticity Behavior of Cellulose–Chitin Composite Hydrogels during Ultrasound Irradiation

Abstract

Composite hydrogels with different cellulose and chitin loading were prepared, and their in-situ viscoelastic properties were estimated under cyclic exposure of 43 kHz and 30 W ultrasound (US) using a sono-deviced rheometer. US transmitted into the hydrogel caused it to soften within about 10 sec, thus causing a decline in the storage modulus (G′) and loss modulus (G″). However, when the US was stopped, the G′ and G″ returned to their initial values. Here, G′ dropped gradually in response to the US irradiation, especially in the first cycle. After the second and third cycles, the decline was much quicker, within a few seconds. When the chitin component in the hydrogel was increased, the drop was significant. FTIR analysis of the hydrogels suggested that the peaks of -OH stretching and amide I vibration near 1655 cm−1 shifted towards lower wave numbers after the third cycle, meaning that the US influenced the hydrogen bonding interaction of the chitin amide group. This repetitive effect contributed to the breakage of hydrogen bonds and increased the interactions of the acetylamine group in chitin and in the -OH groups. Eventually, the matrix turned into a more stabilized hydrogel.