Physical-chemical properties of cross-linked chitosan electrospun fiber mats

• Published in: Polymer testing Vol. 31; no. 8; pp. 1062 - 1069
• Main Authors: Sencadas, V., Correia, D.M., Ribeiro, C., Moreira, S., Botelho, G., Gómez Ribelles, J.L., Lanceros-Mendez, S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kindlington Elsevier Ltd 01-12-2012; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Biomaterials; Chitosan; Chitosan scaffolds; Crosslinking; Crystallinity; Electrospinning; Ethanol; Ethyl alcohol; Exact sciences and technology; Fibers; Glutaraldehyde; Mats; Nanofibers; Physicochemistry of polymers; Polymer industry, paints, wood; Technology of polymers; Electrospinning; Chitosan scaffolds; Crystallinity; Nanofibers; Biomaterials; Artificial fiber; Swelling; Nanofiber; Crosslinking; Adhesion; Physical properties; Deacetylation; Crosslinked polymer; Membrane; Oside polymer; Biomaterial; Chitosan
• ISSN: 0142-9418; 1873-2348
• DOI: 10.1016/j.polymertesting.2012.07.010

Chitosan fiber mats were successfully processed by electrospinning. The as-spun fiber mats were neutralized with ethanol and cross-linked with glutaraldehyde. A decrease of the fiber average diameter from 243 ± 43 nm down to 215.53 nm was observed for the neutralized and cross-linking chitosan membrane. It was found that the processing conditions do not alter the initial deacetylation degree of the polymer.
Polymer crystallinity index showed a decrease from 61% for the Protasan material down to 17% for the cross-linking fiber mats. A swelling index up to 1000% was observed for the cross-linked samples. Preliminary MC-3T3-E1cell culture results showed good cell adhesion and proliferation in the cross-linked chitosan fiber mats.