Abstract Films of chitosan and polyethylene glycol (PEG), with ciprofloxacin hydrochloride as model drug incorporated at different concentrations, have been obtained by a casting/solvent evaporation method. Interrelated chemical, morphological and mechanical characterizations included the component ratio of chitosan and PEG, the loaded amount of ciprofloxacin hydrochloride, the pH and ionic strength of the release solution, the thickness of the drug loaded films, the coating layer of sodium alginate and the cross-linking time with tripolyphosphate (TPP) and others. The results of controlled release tests showed that the amount of ciprofloxacin hydrochloride released increased with an increase in the proportion of PEG and decreased as the amount of drug loaded in the film increased; however, the cumulative release amount of the drug increased. The chitosan/PEG films were also sensitive to pH and ionic strength. In simulated intestinal fluid, the thickness of the film increased from 35 to 85 μm with a concomitant reduction of the ciprofloxacin hydrochloride concentration from 100% to 71%. Differing the concentration of sodium alginate coating solution reduced the release of ciprofloxacin hydrochloride by as much as 16% in simulated gastric fluid and 38% in simulated intestinal fluid. When the cross-linking time of these films in the TPP solution were 0, 5, 15 and 30 min, the drug release rate attained 100%, 100%, 70% and 42%, respectively, within 24 h.