Sequential electrophoretic deposition of chitosan and hyaluronic acid for applications in regenerative medicine

The use of natural polysaccharides like hyaluronic acid (HA) and chitosan (CHI) in the production of films offers significant advantages, including excellent biocompatibility and bioactivity, rendering them ideal for regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. As an alternative to the traditional dipping method, here, electrophoretic deposition (EPD) was employed to achieve coatings based on HA and CHI films on titanium and 316L SS substrates. EPD is increasingly utilized in cellular and biomedical applications due to its precise control over the composition, thickness, and architecture of deposited layers. Characterization of the films was performed using gravimetric methods, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy, contact angle measurements, and adhesion tests. During EPD, the polymers formed dense, swollen, and thick layers much more rapidly than with dipping methods. After drying, the films exhibited excellent uniformity and adhesion on both titanium and SS316L. FTIR and Raman spectroscopies confirmed the structure of chitosan and HA after EPD deposition. SEM revealed the formation of a homogeneous layer with few porosities that formed during EPD; however, individual phases of CHI and HA showed more defects, with pores and cracked structures. Our study confirms the effectiveness of electrophoretic deposition for creating HA and CHI films, highlighting their potential for promising applications in the biomedical field.