Evaluation of bioactive release kinetics from crosslinked chitosan films with Aloe vera

Thermocompression was employed to prepare citric acid-crosslinked chitosan films with Aloe vera (AV) as bioactive compound. Films were easy handle and mechanical properties did not change the addition of AV up 10 wt%, although both TS EAB decreased for 15 wt% AV, indicating that high contents would hinder intermolecular interactions among formulation components. Maillard reaction occurred between acid at processing temperature used (115 °C), while physical took place shown by FTIR analysis. All insoluble but displayed hydration limited swelling due chemical promoted acid, respectively. A slow release, governed a Fickian diffusion controlled mechanism, an increase surface hydrophilicity, which favors cell adhesion, observed.