title: Preparation of alginate-chitosan fibers with potential biomedical applications.
abstract: The preparation of alginate-chitosan fibers, through wet spinning technique, as well as the study of their properties as a function of chitosan's molecular weight and retention time in the coagulation bath, is presented and discussed in this work. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that the fibers presented irregular and rough surfaces, with a grooved and heavily striated morphology distributed throughout the structure. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) showed that, with the exception of elongation at break, the incorporation of chitosan into the fibers improved their tensile properties. The in vitro release profile of sulfathiazole as a function of chitosan's molecular weight indicated that the fibers are viable carriers of drugs. Kinetic models showed that the release of the model drug is first-order, and the release mechanism is governed by the Korsmeyer-Peppas model. Likewise, fibers loaded with sulfathiazole showed excellent inhibition of Escherichia coli growth after an incubation time of 24h at 37 °C.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, United States; Department of Polymer and Fiber Engineering, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, United States.
authors.forename: Bernal
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sibaja
authors.affiliation: Department of Polymer and Fiber Engineering, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, United States.
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Culbertson
authors.affiliation: Department of Polymer and Fiber Engineering, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, United States.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Marshall
authors.affiliation: Department of Polymer and Fiber Engineering, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, United States.
authors.forename: Ramiz
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Boy
authors.affiliation: Department of Polymer and Fiber Engineering, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, United States.
authors.forename: Roy M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Broughton
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Science and Technology of Polymers, National University of Costa Rica, Costa Rica.
authors.forename: Alejandro Aguilar
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Solano
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Science and Technology of Polymers, National University of Costa Rica, Costa Rica.
authors.forename: Marianelly
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Esquivel
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology & Plant Pathology, Auburn University, Auburn, AL.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Parker
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology & Plant Pathology, Auburn University, Auburn, AL.
authors.forename: Leonardo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: De La Fuente
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, United States; Department of Polymer and Fiber Engineering, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, United States. Electronic address: auad@auburn.edu.
authors.forename: Maria L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Auad
mesh_terms: D000464:Alginates / Q000737:chemistry*; D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry*; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry*; D065546:Drug Liberation; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D020723:Glucuronic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D006603:Hexuronic Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D007700:Kinetics; D055595:Mechanical Phenomena; D008970:Molecular Weight; D000077589:Sulfathiazole; D013432:Sulfathiazoles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D000464:Alginates; D004337:Drug Carriers; D006603:Hexuronic Acids; D013432:Sulfathiazoles; D020723:Glucuronic Acid; D048271:Chitosan; D000077589:Sulfathiazole
keywords: Alginate; Chitosan; In-vitro release models; Mechanical properties; Polyelectrolyte complex