Polyvinyl alcohol/chitosan hydrogels with enhanced antioxidant and antibacterial properties induced by lignin nanoparticles

Polyvinyl alcohol/chitosan (PVA/Ch) hydrogels containing 1 and 3wt% of lignin nanoparticles (LNPs) were prepared through a freezing-thaw procedure. Results from microstructural, thermal and mechanical characterization of LNPs based PVA/Ch demonstrated that the lowest amount of LNPs (1wt%) was beneficial, whereas the presence of agglomerates at higher LNP content limited the effect. Moreover, a different swelling behaviour was observed for...