Formation of multi-layered chitosan honeycomb spheres via breath-figure-like approach in combination with co-precipitation processing

Abstract Highly ordered, multi-layered, regular hexagonally patterned and size controlled honeycomb magnetic chitosan hydrogel beads were successfully fabricated by a facile method combining breath-figure templating and co-precipitation processing. The chitosan honeycomb beads were characterized and the unique structure formation mechanism was outlined. The diameter of pores in the hexagonally patterned structure was ∼10 μm, and the saturation magnetization of the chitosan honeycomb containing Fe3O4 nanoparticles (ca. 5 ± 2 nm) was around 12 emu/g.