Rheological Properties of Chitosan Succinimide in Water-Glycerol Mixed Solvent

Abstract

Rheological behavior of chitosan succinimide in water-glycerol mixed solvent was studied. Partial replacement of water by glycerol leads to an increase in the complex viscosity of the polymer in solution, to the formation of the network of intermolecular linkages and transition of the system to the gel state at a lower polymer concentration, to a decrease in the polymer concentration in the solution at which the storage modulus becomes higher than the loss modulus, and to an increase in the relaxation time. The systems formed in the process exhibit the viscosity characteristics stable in time and allow preparation of water-insoluble gel-like materials suitable as a base for soft drug forms.