Mechanical, rheological, nanoindentation and degradability evaluation of soft composite Chitosan/Pectin/NaCl hydrogels with cellulose nanowhiskers

The study focuses on the mechanical, rheological, nanoindentation, and degradability evaluation of soft composite Chitosan/Pectin/NaCl hydrogels enhanced with cellulose nanowhiskers (CNW). The introduction highlights the advantages of chitosan and pectin in biomedical applications, such as antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. The research methodology includes the synthesis of hydrogels with varying concentrations of NaCl and CNW, followed by extensive characterization through swelling tests, thermogravimetric analysis, compression tests, rheological studies, nanoindentation tests, and degradability assessments. The results provide valuable insights into the effects of NaCl and CNW on the hydrogels' performance, particularly their mechanical properties and biodegradability, which are crucial for applications like wound management. The article offers a detailed analysis of these properties, filling a significant gap in the current literature on polyelectrolyte complex hydrogels.