Abstract
In this study, chitosan (CS)/poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) (CS/PVA) blend nanofibers with varying weight ratios and silver (Ag)/copper (Cu)/CS/PVA composite fibers have been prepared successfully by the electrospinning process. The tip-to-collector distance was kept at 15 cm, and the applied voltage was varied from 15 to 25 kV. The effects of the weight ratios and applied voltage on the morphology and diameter of the fibers were investigated. The resultant fibers were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The SEM results showed that increasing the amount of chitosan in the CS/PVA blend resulted in a decrease in the fiber diameter from 162 to 89 nm while an increase in the voltage from 15 to 25 kV led to a decrease in the fiber diameters. Furthermore, the SEM results indicated that an increase in the fiber diameter from 161 to 257 nm was observed while morphological changes were also observed upon the Ag/Cu addition. The latter changes are perceived to be a result of increased conductivity and higher charge density.
Highlights
Electrospinning is a simple, reproducible, and cost-effective method used to produce fibers with diameters ranging from 10 micrometers to 10 nanometers [1]
The asprepared Ag and Cu nanoparticles were further incorporated into the CS/poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) polymer blend
scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of the CS/PVA blends at different weight ratios showed that the fiber diameters decreased with an increased amount of chitosan in the blend resulting in the formation of a mixture of beads and fibers
Summary
Electrospinning is a simple, reproducible, and cost-effective method used to produce fibers with diameters ranging from 10 micrometers (μm) to 10 nanometers (nm) [1]. The production of new and cost-effective materials is of great importance Blending both the natural and synthetic polymers might help in improving the mechanical strength, durability, and cell affinity of the nanofiber scaffolds [9]. Previous studies have shown that Ag nanoparticles can effectively kill pathogenic bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, and Escherichia coli [16] The latter nanoparticles have been used in various polymer materials as coatings or in composite materials for drug delivery applications [17]. These nanoparticles exhibit unique properties such as good conductivity, chemical stability, and antimicrobial activity [19] In this study, both the Ag and Cu nanoparticles were synthesized and incorporated into the polymer blends with a view to producing a polymer blend composite nanofiber material for wound healing applications. To the best of our knowledge, no study on the fabrication and characterization of Ag/Cuincorporated CS/PVA blend composite fibers is found in the literature
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
