Post-Processing of Chitosan Based Nanofibers Prepared by Electrospinning

Abstract

Recently, electrospinning of nanofibers based on chitosan has been widely studied and numerous chitosan based nanofibers have been prepared, for the enormous possibilities of applications in various areas such as filtration, enzyme immobilization, tissue engineering, wound dressing, drug delivery, and catalysis. Because most of the chitosan based nanofibers are soluble in aqueous solutions and the other properties such as mechanical properties are not suitable for the further applications. It is necessary to improve the properties of chitosan based nanofibers. Various post-processing has been done to the chitosan based nanofibers and many post-processing products have emerged. This article discusses the post-processing of the chitosan based nanofibers involving methods, mechanisms, changes of nanofiber properties, and applications of the post-processing products in details. The post-processing is divided into alkali treatment, crosslinking, and functionalizing.

Plasma-Synthesized Silver Nanoparticles on Electrospun Chitosan Nanofiber Surfaces for Antibacterial Applications

“…Alternatively, post treatments can also be used to achieve the desired surface modifications of the as-spun chitosan nanofibers. 18 For example, the antibacterial activity of chitosan nanofibers can further be improved by the quaternization reaction of glucosamine units with alkyl halides, which generates the quaternary ammonium salt. 19 Additionally, solution-based processes have been used to immobilize enzymes, 11 dyes, 20 and nanoparticles 21,22 on the surfaces of chitosan nanofibers.…”

“…New formulations of chitosan electrospinning solutions with additional ingredients allow secondary material modifications with certain functionalities. Alternatively, post treatments can also be used to achieve the desired surface modifications of the as-spun chitosan nanofibers . For example, the antibacterial activity of chitosan nanofibers can further be improved by the quaternization reaction of glucosamine units with alkyl halides, which generates the quaternary ammonium salt .…”