Chitosan bicomponent nanofibers and nanoporous fibers

Nanofibers with average diameters between 20 and 100 nm have been prepared by electrospinning of 82.5% deacetylated chitosan (Mv = 1600 kDa) mixed with poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA, Mw = 124–186 kDa) in 2% (v/v) aqueous acetic acid. The formation of bicomponent fibers was feasible with 3% concentration of solution containing up to an equal mass of chitosan. Finer fibers, fewer beaded structures and more efficient fiber formation were observed with...