Studies on electrospun chitosan based nanofibres reinforced with cellulose and chitin nanowhiskers

Abstract

This paper examines the preparation and properties of cellulose whiskers and chitin whiskers reinforced chitosan nanocomposite fibres by the process of electrospinning. A dispersion of cellulose and chitin whiskers in chitosan solution was used under optimized processing conditions to obtain uniform and bead free nanofibres. Nanocomposite fibres with varying whisker loadings were prepared and collected in the form of randomly oriented porous mats. Loadings of concentrations of 1.25 - 5% chitin whiskers and cellulose whiskers were incorporated into the chitosan solution and electrospun at 20cm and applied voltage of 15kV (0.75kV/cm), respectively. Nanowhisker and nanofibre characteristics were determined by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Thermogravimetric Analyser (TGA) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). The nanofiber mats prepared by electrospinning is expected to find biomedical application as wound dressing, burn healing etc.