Ultrathin Chitin Films
for Nanocomposites and Biosensors
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Abstract
Chitin is the second most abundant biopolymer and insight
into
its natural synthesis, enzymatic degradation, and chemical interactions
with other biopolymers is important for bioengineering with this renewable
resource. This work is the first report of smooth, homogeneous, ultrathin
chitin films, opening the door to surface studies of binding interactions,
adsorption kinetics, and enzymatic degradation. The chitin films were
formed by spincoating trimethylsilyl chitin onto gold or silica substrates,
followed by regeneration to a chitin film. Infrared and X-ray photoelectron
spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, ellipsometry, and atomic force microscopy
were used to confirm the formation of smooth, homogeneous, and amorphous
chitin thin films. Quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring
(QCM-D) solvent exchange experiments showed these films swelled with
49% water by mass. The utility of these chitin films as biosensors
was evident from QCM-D and surface plasmon resonance studies that
revealed the adsorption of a bovine serum albumin monolayer