Wettability of hybrid chitosan/phospholipid coatings

Solution spreading and Langmuir-Blodgett/Schaefer techniques were used for preparation of chitosan/phospholipid (DPPC) films on air plasma treated polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plates. The surface wetting properties were determined based on the measurements of the advancing and receding contact angles of water, formamide and diiodomethane. The contact angle hysteresis model of Chibowski was applied to estimate the total surface free energy values. The coatings properties were found to be affected by molecular organisation and packing depending on the preparation technique. Phospholipid molecules modified the chitosan film surface by changing the kind and magnitude of interactions, which is revealed in the values of surface free energy. These findings may be helpful for the development of new generation polymer-supported biocompatible coatings with anti-thrombogenic and anti-bactericidal properties, thus expanding the spectrum of chitosan applications.