Abstract
Electrospinning of chitosan from its solutions in 2% aqueous acetic acid was studied by adding poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) as a "guest" polymer. Properties of the chitosan/PVA solutions including viscosity, conductivity, and surface tension were measured, and effects of the polymer concentration, chitosan/PVA mass ratio and processing parameters (applied voltage, flow rate, capillary-to-collector distance) on the electrospinnability of chitosan/PVA were investigated. Analyses of scanning electron micrographs and transmission electron micrographs suggested that the chitosan/PVA ultrafine fibers were often obtained along with beads, and chitosan was located in the elctrospun fibers as well as in the beads. Uniform chitosan/PVA fibers with an average diameter of 99±21 nm could be prepared from a 7% chitosan/PVA solution in 40:60 mass ratio. Results of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction demonstrated that there were possible hydrogen bonds between chitosan and PVA molecules, which could weaken the strong interaction in chitosan itself and facilitate chitosan/PVA electrospinnability. The electrospun chitosan/PVA membranes showed higher water uptake and would have potential applications in wound dressings.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 855-863 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Colloid and Polymer Science |
Volume | 285 |
Issue number | 8 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - May 2007 |
Keywords
- Chitosan
- Electrospinnability
- Hydrogen bond
- Morphology
- Poly(vinyl alcohol)
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
- Polymers and Plastics
- Colloid and Surface Chemistry
- Materials Chemistry