A simple method to obtain novel nanofibers composed of polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs) has been proposed. It consists of the electrospinning of a mixed homogeneous solution of polyelectrolyte partners, and the formation of PEC during the electrospinning. This was achieved by careful choice of the composition of the spinning solutions. Chitosan was the polycationic partner, with either a weak polyacid [poly(acrylic acid), PAA] as a counterpart or a strong one [poly(2‐acrylamido‐2‐methylpropanesulfonic acid), PAMPS]. The fibrous mats were composed of nanofibers with mean diameters of ca. 100 nm. They retained their integrity over the pH range which is typical of the corresponding PEC.
Hybrid nanofibers from chitosan or N-carboxyethylchitosan (CECh) and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were prepared by electrospinning using HCOOH as a solvent. AgNPs were synthesized in situ in the spinning solution. HCOOH slowed down the cross-linking of the polysaccharides with GA enabling the reactive electrospinning in the presence of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO). EDX analyses showed that AgNPs are uniformly dispersed in the nanofibers. Since AgNPs hampered the cross-linking of chitosan and CECh with GA in the hybrid fibers, the imparting of water insolubility to the fibers was achieved at a second stage using GA vapors. The surface of chitosan/PEO/AgNPs nanofibers was enriched in chitosan and 15 wt.-% of the incorporated AgNPs were on the fiber surface as evidenced by XPS.
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