In this study, mussel-inspired chemistry, based on catechol–amine reactions, was adopted to develop self-cross-linkable chitosan–alginate (Chi–Alg) complexes. To do so, the biopolymers were each substituted with ∼20% catechol groups (ChiC and AlgC), and then four complex combinations (Chi–Alg, ChiC–Alg, Chi–AlgC, ChiC–AlgC) were prepared at the surface and in bulk solution. Based on QCM-D and lap shear adhesion tests, the complex with catechol only on Chi (ChiC–Alg) did not show a significant variation from the control complex (Chi–Alg). Conversely, the complexes with catechol on alginate (Chi–AlgC and ChiC–AlgC) rendered a self-cross-linking property and enhanced cohesive properties.
