Investigation of the structure formation of chitosan in solutions by transmission electron microscopy

Abstract

The structures of chitosan films formed in acetic and dichloroacetic acids are studied using electron transmission microscopy. It is shown that in diluted solutions the chitosan macromolecules form spherical particles of 10 to 15 nm in diameter. As the polymer concentration is increased both spherical and fibrillar supermolecular formations appear, depending on the nature of the solvent. The structure of chitosan films also depends on the particular solvents used.

Electrospinning of Chitosan

“…[28,29] In the solid state, relatively rigid crystallites form due to the regularly arranged hydroxyl and amino groups at the equatorial positions in the b(1,4)-linked D-glucosamine repeating units, [30] while in solution, hydrogen bonding drives the formation of microfibrils, depending on the chitosan concentration. [31] Such characteristics of chitosan guide the methodology for the successful electrospinning of this material and will further form an interplay between basic polymer chemistry and advanced materials science. There have been several attempts to prepare a nonwoven fabric of chitosan by the electrospinning technique.…”

Chitosan Nanofiber

“…The hydroxyl groups contribute by forming relatively rigid crystallites (forms I and II) in the solid state . In the solution state, hydrogen bonding between chitosan molecules drives the formation of microfibrils, depending on the concentrations . These characteristics of chitosan will inspire the methodology for successful electrospinning of this material and will further form an interplay between basic polymer chemistry and advanced nanomaterial science.…”