Gel formation from self-assembled chitin nanofiber film by grafting of poly(2-methyl-2-oxazoline)

Abstract

In this study, the grafting of poly(2-methyl-2-oxazoline) onto a self-assembled chitin-nanofiber film was investigated by reacting its living propagating ends with amino groups generated on the film by deacetylation. As the reaction progressed, the product formed a gel with DMSO, the reaction medium, and this gel was further converted into a hydrogel via exchange of the dispersing medium.