Chitosan nanofibers from an easily electrospinnable UHMWPEO-doped chitosan solution system.
Conversion of natural biopolymer chitosan into nanofibers through electrospinning has significant usefulness in various biomedical applications, in particular, for constructing a biomimetic and bioactive nanofibrous artificial extracellular matrix for engineering various tissues. Here, we show that introduction of an ultrahigh-molecular-weight poly(ethylene oxide) (UHMWPEO) into aqueous chitosan solutions remarkably enhances the formation of chitosan nanofibrous structure and leads to much lower loading of the water soluble fiber-forming aiding agent of PEO down to 5 wt % as compared to previous high PEO loadings in the electrospun chitosan nanofibers. The excellent electrospinnability of the current formulation renders electrospinning of natural biopolymer chitosan a robust process for large-scale production of practically applicable nanofibrous structures.
Zhang
Y Z
YZ
Department of Oral & Dental Science, University of Bristol, Lower Maudlin Street, Bristol BS1 2LY, United Kingdom. y.z.zhang@bristol.ac.uk
Su
B
B
Ramakrishna
S
S
Lim
C T
CT
D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008970:Molecular Weight; D049329:Nanostructures; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry*; D012996:Solutions
D012996:Solutions; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D048271:Chitosan