Gel formation in polymeric composites for modification of fibrous materials

The possibility of using oxidized nucleotides and nuclosides as cross-linking reagents for preparing chitosan hydrogels with a broad range of applications was examined. It was found that the ratio of dialdehyde to chitosan amine and the reaction medium pH affected gel formation in aqueous acetic acid solutions of chitosan in the presence of the cross-linking reagents glutaraldehyde and oxidized nucleic acid derivatives. IR spectra of chitosan and its derivatives were recorded and characterized. Immobilization of the proteolytic enzyme trypsin in chitosan films on fibrous materials was studied.