Bioactive hybrid nanosilica/chitosan nanomaterials obtained by an ecological gas-phase solvate-stimulated mechanosorption modification technique: A comprehensive study

This article presents the preparation and a comprehensive study of hybrid nanosilica/chitosan bionanomaterials obtained via the gas-phase solvate-stimulated mechanosorption modification (GSSMSM) method. This approach belongs to the class of “dry” technologies and aligns with environmentally friendly and technologically advanced strategies. In the applied GSSMSM method, two approaches were applied – chitosan was applicated in powder or solvate forms. To analyse the structural, textural, and physicochemical properties of the prepared biomaterials, several methods were used: potentiometric titration of suspension (SPT), elemental analysis (CHN), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), low-temperature nitrogen adsorption/desorption isotherms, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with microanalysis (EDX), and optical profilometry (OP). The insightful investigation of the obtained materials revealed that the approach using a solvated chitosan form yielded a nanomaterial with denser polymer packing, resulting from more effective electrostatic and hydrogen interactions between the polymer and the silica surface: higher N/C ratio, higher point of zero charge, reduced porosity and morphology parameters.