Biocompatibility polyelectrolyte coating with water-enabled self-healing ability

A biocompatibility polyelectrolyte coating capable of self-healing damages was developed via Layer-by-Layer self-assembly, a synthetic strategy that alternatively assembles layers of Chitosan (CS) and hyaluronic acid (HA). The reversible interactions of the hydrogen bonding formed between CS and HA can be dynamically associated/dissociated with water, imparting the CS/HA polyelectrolyte coating with substantially improved self-healing property and significantly decreasing micro-cracks and their associated concerns. Also, through structural changes induced during the freeze-drying and self-healing processes, not only can different kinds of drug molecules be easily loaded into CS/HA polyelectrolyte coating but also a variety of nanoparticles. These features provide the CS/HA polyelectrolyte coating with extend lifespan, enhanced reliability, and considerable promise for applying in novel functional biomedical materials.