@article {20359,
	title = {Approach on chitosan/virgin coconut oil-based emulsion matrices as a platform to design superabsorbent materials},
	journal = {Carbohydrate polymers },
	volume = {249},
	year = {2020},
	month = {2020-12-01 00:00:00},
	pages = {116839},
	publisher = {Elsevier},
	abstract = {<p>The design of innovative pharmaceutical products, able to reach unexplored market niches, requires natural materials use with improved swelling and moisture properties. Herein, chitosan (CHT), a natural polymer, was combined with virgin coconut oil (VCO), a resource extracted from coconut kernels, to develop emulsion-based films for biomedical purposes. The film{\textquoteright}s properties were tuned by changing VCO concentrations, and the structural, morphological, and physical properties of the films were evaluated. The CHT/VCO-based film morphology showed the presence of VCO droplets at different sizes, both in the surface and inner part. Moreover, the capability to develop CHT/VCO-films as superabsorbent materials was shown. The film extracts cytotoxicity was assessed using human adipose stem cells, and metabolic activity was confirmed. The findings suggest that incorporating a small volume of VCO into the CHT system, superabsorbent materials with the potential to be applied in biomedical devices that require high swelling properties, can be developed.</p>},
	keywords = {Biomaterials, Chitosan, emulsion film, natural polymers, skin diseases, Virgin coconut oil},
	issn = {18791344},
	doi = {10.1016/j.carbpol.2020.116839},
	url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0144861720310122},
	author = {Silva, S. S. and Rodrigues, L.C. and Fernandes, E. M. and Gomes, J. M. and Vilas-Boas, A. and Pirraco, R. P. and Reis, R. L.}
}
