The structural (FTIR, XRD, and XPS) and biological studies of thermosensitive chitosan chloride gels with β‐glycerophosphate disodium

ABSTRACT In this article, the properties of thermosensitive chitosan hydrogels (structural and biological) prepared using chitosan chloride and β‐glycerophosphate are presented. The porous structure of the gels was observed with a scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Rheological and other structural and morphological investigations were carried out by infrared spectroscopy and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Crystallinity of the gel was determined by X‐ray diffraction analysis. Biocompatibility of the chitosan gels was investigated by contact with bone cells (line Saos‐2) for 7 and 21 days. The cells were encapsulated and seeded onto the gel. A live/dead test showed no cytotoxic reaction. The structure of the gels, before and after the cell culture, was tested using SEM (including ESEM), to select the most suitable method of preparation and reliable visualization of the gel with cells. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018, 135, 46459.