**2. Results**

### *2.1. Synthesis of Pectin Aerogels and Chitosan-Coated Pectin Aerogels*

Figure 1 shows a schematic presentation of the modified coating method, applied for covering the pectin core with a chitosan layer. In the first step (a), 4% (*w*/*w*) pectin solution was prepared, poured into molds and covered with ethanol to obtain gels. Once the stable gel was obtained, tablet shape forms were cut (b) for further treatment. Step (c) refers to dipping pectin cores into 1.5% (*w*/*w*) chitosan solution in 0.2 M CH3COOH. To attach chitosan to the pectin core, tablets were transferred to NaOH solution in ethanol (d), which triggered the gelation of chitosan. In the last step, before further processing, pectin gels coated with chitosan were washed out with ethanol (e).

**Figure 1.** Schematic presentation of the coating procedure.

To prepare aerogels from gels, a supercritical drying technique was applied at 120 bar and 40 ◦C for 6 h. The aerogels obtained are presented in Figure 2. Chitosan-coated pectin aerogels (right side) are more massive with clearly changed shapes. Unlike the pectin aerogels (left side), which have a precise, tablet-shaped form, chitosan-coated pectin aerogels have less defined shapes. The average diameter-to-height ratio for pectin aerogels is 3, while for chitosan-coated pectin aerogels, it is 1.5.

**Figure 2.** Pectin aerogels and chitosan-coated pectin aerogels.

### *2.2. Characterization of Pectin Aerogels and Chitosan-Coated Pectin Aerogels*
