Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)In this study, alginate (A) and chitosan (C)-based membranes designed for skin tissue engineering applications were prepared using three different A to C mass ratios (3:1, 1:1, and 1:3). Each formulation was produced with alginate of two different viscosities (low and medium). Porous membranes were obtained through foaming by adding the surfactant Poloxamer 188 to the formulations at the concentrations of 1%, 5%, and 10% (w/w) in excess of the biopolymers mass. The physicochemical properties of the membranes were evaluated, showing that the formation of more stable, resistant, and porous structures with Poloxamer 188 was favored in membranes prepared with medium-viscosity alginate. The surfactant also exerted the most pronounced porogenic effect on the formulation with alginate:chitosan mass ratio equal to 3:1. These membranes consequently had greater thickness, roughness, opacity, water vapor transmission rate, and lower mechanical resistance than 1:1 and 1:3 membranes. Taken together, the results indicated that it is possible to improve and tune the properties of alginatechitosan polyelectrolyte complexes by varying the viscosity of alginate and proportions of biopolymers and surfactant. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016, 133, 44216.13346Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo (FAPESP) [2013/23653-0]Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico (CNPq) [307139/2015-8]Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)