Biodegradable nanofibrous membrane of zein/silk fibroin by electrospinning

BACKGROUND: Electrospinning of natural polymers offers a promising approach to generate nanofibers with a similar fibrillar structure to that of native extracellular matrix. In the present work, zein/silk fibroin (SF) blends were electrospun with formic acid as solvent to fabricate bicomponent nanofibrous scaffolds for biomedical applications. RESULTS: The zein/SF electrospun nanofibers had a smaller diameter and narrower diameter distribution than pure zein nanofibers, and the average diameter gradually decreased from 265 to 230 nm with increasing SF content in the blend. The predominant presence of α‐helix zein structure and random coil form of silk I in blend fibrous membranes was confirmed from Fourier transform infrared spectral and wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction data, while conversion to the β‐sheet structure of SF was also detected. The tensile strength of the zein/SF fibrous membranes was improved as the content of SF in the blend fibers increased. A preliminary study of in vitro degradation and cytotoxicity evaluated by MTT assay indicated that biodegradable zein/SF fibrous membranes did not induce cytotoxic effects in an L929 mouse fibroblast system. CONCLUSION: Biodegradable zein/SF fibrous membranes with good mechanical properties and cytocompatibility combine the beneficial characteristics of the individual components and may be useful for biomedical applications. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

Preparation and characterization of biomimetic tussah silk fibroin/chitosan composite nanofibers

Tussah silk fibroin (TSF)/chitosan (CS) composite nanofibers were prepared to mimic extracellular matrix by electrospinning with hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP) as a solvent. The viscosity and conductivity of TSF/CS blend solution were analyzed and the morphology, secondary structure, and thermal property of TSF/CS composite fibers were investigated by SEM, ¹³C CP/MAS-NMR, X-ray diffraction, and DSC Techniques. The electrospinnability of TSF solution was improved significantly by adding 10 wt% CS, and morphology of electrospun TSF nanofibers changed from flat strip to cylindrical. At the same time, the average fiber diameters decreased from 542 to 312 nm, accompanying by an obvious improvement in fiber diameter uniformity. However, when the CS content in blend solution was more than 15 wt%, the diameter of electrospun TSF/CS nanofibers appeared to be polarized which can be attributed to phase separation of the two components in composite nanofibers. Blending 10 wt% CS did not change the conformation of TSF in TSF/CS composite nanofibers, and TSF in composite nanofibers at various composition ratios had mainly taken the α-helix structure. The thermal decomposition temperature of electrospun TSF/CS composite nanofibers decreased with the increase of CS content due to the lower decomposition temperature of CS. To study the cytocompatibility and cell behavior on the TSF/CS nanofibers, human renal mesangial cells were seeded onto electrospun TSF/CS composite nanofibers. Results indicated that the addition of CS promoted cell attachment and spreading on TSF nanofibers significantly, suggesting that electrospun TSF/CS composite nanofibers could be a candidate scaffold for tissue engineering.     

Fabrication and intermolecular interactions of silk fibroin/hydroxybutyl chitosan blended nanofibers

The native extracellular matrix (ECM) is composed of a cross-linked porous network of multifibril collagens and glycosaminoglycans. Nanofibrous scaffolds of silk fibroin (SF) and hydroxybutyl chitosan (HBC) blends were fabricated using 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol (HFIP) and trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) as solvents to biomimic the native ECM via electrospinning. Scanning electronic microscope (SEM) showed that relatively uniform nanofibers could be obtained when 12% SF was blended with 6% HBC at the weight ratio of 50:50. Meanwhile, the average nanofibrous diameter increased when the content of HBC in SF/HBC blends was raised from 20% to 100%. Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR) and (13)C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) showed SF and HBC molecules existed in hydrogen bonding interactions but HBC did not induce conformation of SF transforming from random coil form to β-sheet structure. X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed the different structure of SF/HBC blended nanofibers from both SF and HBC. Thermogravimetry-Differential thermogravimetry (TG-DTG) results demonstrated that the thermal stability of SF/HBC blend nanofibrous scaffolds was improved. The results indicated that the rearrangement of HBC and SF molecular chain formed a new structure due to stronger hydrogen bonding between SF and HBC. These electrospun SF/HBC blended nanofibers may provide an ideal tissue engineering scaffold and wound dressing.     

Studies of electrospun regenerated SF/TSF nanofibers

The Bombyx mori silk fibroin/Tussah silk fibroin (SF/TSF) nanofibers with diameters between 300 and 3500 nm were prepared by electrospinning with the solvent HFIP. The average diameters of SF/TSF blend fibers increased from 404 to 1977 nm, with the increase of SF content in blend solutions, and the relationship between the average diameters of SF/TSF and SF content was proved to be linear correlation. Results from FTIR, TG-DTA and X-ray diffraction showed that the electrospun fibers were mainly β-sheet structure and, heterogeneous micro-structures. In particular, the presence of two different endothermic peaks at 300 and 360 °C in the TG-DTA curves may be ascribed to the thermal decomposition of SF and TSF. These results suggested that SF and TSF were still immiscible even dissolved in hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP) after electrospinning and ethanol treatment. Moreover, the thermal decomposition temperature and enthalpy were improved with the blend of SF and TSF, else the SF/TSF nanofibers' moisture absorption was higher than the pure SF or TSF nanofibers. To study the cytocompatibility and cell behavior on the SF/TSF nanofibers, MSCs, VECs, and Neurons were seeded onto the nanofibers. Results indicated that the SF/TSF nanofibers promote cell attachment and spreading, suggesting that these nanofibers could be a candidate scaffold for blood vessel and nerve injury recovery.     

Fabrication of Chitosan/Silk Fibroin Composite Nanofibers for Wound-dressing Applications

Chitosan, a naturally occurring polysaccharide with abundant resources, has been extensively exploited for various biomedical applications, typically as wound dressings owing to its unique biocompatibility, good biodegradability and excellent antibacterial properties. In this work, composite nanofibrous membranes of chitosan (CS) and silk fibroin (SF) were successfully fabricated by electrospinning. The morphology of electrospun blend nanofibers was observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the fiber diameters decreased with the increasing percentage of chitosan. Further, the mechanical test illustrated that the addition of silk fibroin enhanced the mechanical properties of CS/SF nanofibers. The antibacterial activities against Escherichia coli (Gram negative) and Staphylococcus aureus (Gram positive) were evaluated by the turbidity measurement method; and results suggest that the antibacterial effect of composite nanofibers varied on the type of bacteria. Furthermore, the biocompatibility of murine fibroblast on as-prepared nanofibrous membranes was investigated by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining and MTT assays in vitro, and the membranes were found to promote the cell attachment and proliferation. These results suggest that as-prepared chitosan/silk fibroin (CS/SF) composite nanofibrous membranes could be a promising candidate for wound healing applications.     

Fabrication and characterization of carbon nanofibers with a multiple tubular porous structure via electrospinning

Carbon nanofibers with a multiple tubular porous structure were prepared via electrospinning from a polymer blend solution of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and polylactide (PLA) followed by carbonization. The electrospun composite nanofibers underwent pre-oxidization and carbonization, which selectively eliminated PLA phases and transformed the continuous PAN phase into carbon, thereby porous structure formed in the carbon nanofibers. The morphologies of as-spun, pre-oxidized and carbonized nanofibers were studied by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). It was found that carbon nanofibers with an average diameter about 250 nm and a multiple tubular porous structure were obtained. The chemical changes during thermal treatment were studied by Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR), Raman spectra, differential thermal analysis (DTA) and thermogravimetric analysis (TG). The results showed that PLA phases were effectively removed and the continuous PAN phase was completely carbonized. The obtained carbon nanofibers had more disordered non-graphitized structures than non-porous nanofibers.     

A fundamental study of chitosan/PEO electrospinning

A highly deacetylated (97.5%) chitosan in 50% acetic acid was electrospun at moderate temperatures (25-70 °C) in the presence of a low content of polyethylene oxide (10 wt% PEO) to beadless nanofibers of 60-80 nm in diameter. A systematic quantitative analysis of the solution properties such as surface tension, conductivity, viscosity and acid concentration was conducted in order to shed light on the electrospinnability of this polysaccharide. Rheological properties of chitosan and PEO solutions were studied in order to explain how PEO improves the electrospinnability of chitosan. Positive charges on the chitosan molecule and its chain stiffness were considered as the main limiting factors for electrospinability of neat chitosan as compared to PEO, since surface tension and viscosity of the respective solutions were similar. Various blends of chitosan and PEO solutions with different component ratios were prepared (for 4 wt% total polymer content). A significant positive deviation from the additivity rule in the zero shear viscosity of chitosan/PEO blends was observed and believed to be a proof for strong hydrogen bonding between chitosan and PEO chains, making their blends electrospinnable. The impact of temperature and blend composition on the morphology and diameter of electrospun fibers was also investigated. Electrospinning at moderate temperatures (40-70 °C) helped to obtain beadless nanofibers with higher chitosan content. Additionally, it was found that higher chitosan content in the precursor blends led to thinner nanofibers. Increasing chitosan/PEO ratio from 50/50 to 90/10 led to a diameter reduction from 123 to 63 nm. Producing defect free nanofibrous mats from the electrospinning process and with high chitosan content is particularly promising for antibacterial film packaging and filtration applications.     

静电纺丝工艺参数对丝素/壳聚糖纳米纤维的形貌及直径的影响

以98%的甲酸为溶剂,不同质量分数的再生丝素溶液和3.5%的壳聚糖溶液以质量比70:30共混静电纺丝。用扫描电子显微镜(SEM)观察了丝素质量分数、电压和极距(喷丝口到收集装置的距离)对丝素/壳聚糖纳米纤维的形貌及直径的影响。正交试验结果表明:在丝素/壳聚糖溶液静电纺丝的工艺参数中,对纤维平均直径的影响因素由大到小依次为丝素质量分数、电压、极距。单因素试验表明:丝素/壳聚糖纳米纤维的平均直径及其分布范围随丝素质量分数的增加而增大;在15￣30kV范围内纤维的平均直径随电压增大而减小;当极距大于12cm时,对纤维直径影响不大。最佳工艺条件为:丝素质量分数13%,电压30kV,极距为12cm,制得的纳米纤维平均直径104nm。     

Study on the properties of the electrospun silk fibroin/gelatin blend nanofibers for scaffolds

Silk fibroin (SF)/gelatin blend nanofibers membranes as scaffolds were fabricated successfully via electrospinning with different composition ratios in formic acid. The formation of intermolecular hydrogen bonds and the conformational transition of SF provided scaffolds with excellent mechanical properties. FTIR and DTA analysis showed the SF/gelatin nanofibers had more β‐sheet structures than the pure SF nanofibers. The former's breaking tenacity increased from 0.95 up to 1.60 MPa, strain at break was 7.6%, average fiber diameter was 89.2 nm, porosity was 87%, and pore diameter was 142 nm. MTT, H&E stain, and SEM results showed that the adhesion, spreading, and proliferation of human umbilic vein endothelium cells (HUVECs) and mouse fibroblasts on the SF/gelatin nanofibers scaffolds were definitely better than that on the SF nanofibers scaffolds. The scaffolds could replace the natural ECM proteins, support long‐term cell growth, form three‐dimensional networks of the nanofibrous structure, and grow in the direction of fiber orientation. Our results prove that the addition of gelatin improved the mechanical and biological properties of the pure SF nanofibers, these SF/gelatin blend nanofiber membranes are desirable for the scaffolds and may be a good candidate for blood vessel engineering scaffolds. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009     

Metal ion permeation properties of silk fibroin/chitosan blend membranes

Silk fibroin/chitosan (SF/CS) blend membranes were prepared and characterized by infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and scanning electron microscopy. It was found that SF and CS were compatible in the blend membranes and that the membranes were dense without microscopic phase separation. Swelling experiments showed that the swelling ratio of the blend membranes increased with CS content and reached the highest value when CS content was 70 wt%. Experiments indicated that the permeability coefficient of K⁺ through the blend membrane was 2–4 times higher than that of pure CS membrane, and 10 times higher than that of pure SF membrane. The permeation rate of K⁺ increased linearly with CS content in the blend membrane for the lower concentration feeding solution. For different metal ions, the permeability through SF/CS blend membranes was in the sequence K⁺ > Ca²⁺ > Cd²⁺ > Pb²⁺ > Cu²⁺ > Ni²⁺. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry     

Electrospinning of chitosan/poly(lactic acid) nanofibers: The favorable effect of nonionic surfactant

To improve the electrospinnability of chitosan (CS), a series of nanofiber membrane blends comprised of CS, poly(lactic acid) (PLA), and nonionic surfactant polyoxyethylene nonylphenol ether (TX‐15), were made. Uniform nanofibers with no bead‐like structures were obtained from solutions of 2% TX‐15 with 6% CS(50)/PLA(50). The diameter was between 200 and 300 nm. We found that with increasing TX‐15 in the blend, the nanofibers displayed more hydrophilicity. Compared to CS/PLA nanofibers, the blend polymers with TX‐15 had better tensile mechanical properties. Finally, all cells examined showed high levels of attachment and spreading on CS/PLA/TX‐15 nanofibers with a TX‐15 content of 0～3%. Thus, the nanofibers were nontoxic. In conclusion, adding PLA and TX‐15 to CS via solution‐blending and electrospinning may be an effective way to toughen CS nanofibers and make them more suitable for drug delivery or tissue engineering applications. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 41098.     

Composite chitosan/poly(ethylene oxide) electrospun nanofibrous mats as novel wound dressing matrixes for the controlled release of drugs

The aim of this study was to develop novel biomedical electrospun nanofiber mats for controlled drug release, in particular to release a drug directly to an injury site to accelerate wound healing. Here, nanofibers of chitosan (CS), poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), and a 90 : 10 composite blend, loaded with a fluoroquinolone antibiotic, such as ciprofloxacin hydrochloride (CipHCl) or moxifloxacin hydrochloride (Moxi), were successfully prepared by an electrospinning technique. The morphology of the electrospun nanofibers was investigated by scanning electron microscopy. The functional groups of the electrospun nanofibers before and after crosslinking were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. X‐ray diffraction results indicated an amorphous distribution of the drug inside the nanofiber blend. In vitro drug‐release evaluations showed that the crosslinking could control the rate and period of drug release in wound‐healing applications. The inhibition of bacterial growth for both Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were achieved on the CipHCl‐ and Moxi‐loaded nanofibers. In addition, both types of CS/PEO and drug‐containing CS/PEO nanofibers showed excellent cytocompatibility in the cytotoxicity assays. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 42060.     

5-Fluorouracil-loaded poly(vinyl alcohol)/chitosan blend nanofibers: morphology,drug release and cell culture studies

Electrospun polymeric nanofibers as carriers for anticancer drugs have received a great deal of attention to treat tumor cells. This work was aimed to prepare an optimized nanofibrous sample based on poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)/chitosan (CS) blend, and then evaluate it containing 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in terms of morphology, drug release, and cell culture. The electrospinning conditions to produce PVA/CS (50/50) blend nanofibers with an average diameter of approximately 150.8 nm were adjusted as follows: applied voltage 17 kV, needle tip to collector distance 60 cm, and flow rate 0.1 mL/h. The obtained results from Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that there were no chemical interactions between the polymers and drug during the electrospinning process and the uniform morphology without beads. Moreover, to prolong 5-FU release from the blend nanofibers, three layered samples consisting of PVA/CS blend and poly (ε-caprolactone) (PCL) [PVA/CS-PCL 3-layers] were electrospun. On the other hand, by adding PCL in the PVA/CS blend nanofibers, the samples showed more hydrophobic property. Eventually, thiazolyl blue (MTT) assay along with NIH 3T3 cells culture proved that the sample could kill more than 80% of the cells. This formulation could be a promising candidate for cancer therapy potentially.

     

Electrospun silk fibroin/β-cyclodextrin citrate nanofibers as a novel biomaterial for application in controlled drug release

Abstract

A novel β-cyclodextrin-grafted silk fibroin (SF) nanofibers was successfully fabricated. The morphology and diameter of the electrospun nanofibers were characterized. FE-SEM images showed that the morphology and diameter of the nanofibers were mainly affected by weight ratio of the blend. FTIR, ¹H-NMR, DSC and TGA confirmed the crosslinking reaction between β-cyclodextrin and SF. The release rate of Ciprofloxacin was measured and observed that the SF-g-CD nanofibrous mat provided slower release of the entrapped drug when compared with SF nanofibrous mat. A mathematical analysis of the drug release data suggested that the Higuchi model was the best fitted model.     

Preparation and characterization of biomimetic silk fibroin/chitosan composite nanofibers by electrospinning for osteoblasts culture

ABSTRACT: In this study, we have successfully fabricated electrospun bead-free silk fibroin [SF]/chitosan [CS] composite nanofibers [NFs] covering the whole range of CS content (0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%). SF/CS spinning solutions were prepared in a mixed solvent system of trifluoroacetic acid [TFA] and dichloromethane. The morphology of the NFs was observed by scanning electron microscope, and the average fiber diameter ranges from 215 to 478 nm. Confocal laser scanning microscopy confirms the uniform distribution of SF and CS within the composite NFs. To increase biocompatibility and preserve nanostructure when seeded with cells in culture medium, NFs were treated with an ethanol/ammonia aqueous solution to remove residual TFA and to change SF protein conformation. After the chemical treatment, SF/CS NFs could maintain the original structure for up to 54 days in culture medium. Properties of pristine and chemically treated SF/CS NFs were investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy [FT-IR], X-ray diffraction [XRD], and thermogravimetry/differential scanning calorimetry [TG/DSC]. Shift of absorption peaks in FT-IR spectra confirms the conformation change of SF from random coil to β-sheet by the action of ethanol, which is also consistent with the SF crystalline diffraction patterns measured by XRD. From TG/DSC analysis, the decomposition temperature peaks due to salt formation from TFA and protonated amines disappeared after chemical treatment, indicating complete removal of TFA by binding with ammonium ions during the treatment. This was also confirmed with the disappearance of F1s peak in X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy spectra and disappearance of TFA salt peaks in FT-IR spectra. The composite NFs could support the growth and osteogenic differentiation of human fetal osteoblastic [hFOB] cells, but each component in the composite NF shows distinct effect on cell behavior. SF promotes hFOB proliferation while CS enhances hFOB differentiation. The composite SF/CS NFs will be suitable for bone tissue engineering applications by choosing a suitable blend composition.PACS: 87.85.jf; 87.85.Rs; 68.37.Hk.     

Chitin and chitosan nanofibers: electrospinning of chitin and deacetylation of chitin nanofibers

An electrospinning method was used to fabricate chitin nanofibous matrix for wound dressings. Chitin was depolymerized by gamma irradiation to improve its solubility. The electrospinning of chitin was performed with 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol (HFIP) as a spinning solvent. Morphology of as-spun and deacetylated chitin (chitosan) nanofibers was investigated by scanning electron microscopy. Although as-spun chitin nanofibers had the broad fiber diameter distribution, most of the fiber diameters are less than 100 nm. From the image analysis, they had an average diameter of 110 nm and their diameters ranged from 40 to 640 nm. For deacetylation, as-spun chitin nanofibous matrix was chemically treated with a 40% aqueous NaOH solution at 60 or 100 °C. With the deacetylation for 150 min at 100 °C or for 1day at 60 °C, chitin matrix was transformed into chitosan matrix with degree of deacetylation (DD) ∼85% without dimensional change (shrinkage). This structural transformation from chitin to chitosan was confirmed by FT-IR and WAXD.     

Scaffolds based on hydroxypropyl starch: Processing,morphology, characterization,and biological behavior

In this study, a novel electrospun hybrid scaffold was developed, which consists of a blend of a modified natural substance, hydroxypropyl starch (HPS) with a synthetic one, poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO). Nanofibers with varying polysaccharide contents were fabricated using water as solvent and the electrospinning process conditions investigated as a function of the weight ratio of the blend. The fibers were characterized through mean diameter and morphology by scanning electron microscopy. Micrographs clearly showed the effect of HPS/PEO weight ratio of the blend on the nanofibers formation. Stability of the fibers was enhanced by coating with hydrophobic poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). In vitro degradation analysis of the coated mats after 1 month of immersion showed porous formation, whereas the fibrous structure was retained. The biological response of the mats against human fibroblasts proved that cells were able to adhere to and proliferate on the fibrous materials. Thus, the feasibility of producing nanofibers of HPS/PEO blends with high proportion of starch and their biocompatibility after coating with PMMA was demonstrated, indicating that these materials have potential to be used as scaffolds in tissue engineering applications. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci., 2013     

Fabrication and characterization of chitosan/kefiran electrospun nanofibers for tissue engineering applications

Chitosan (CS)-based nanofibrous scaffolds are very promising in tissue engineering applications. However, electrospinning of CS is not possible unless using toxic solvents such as trifluoroacetic acid or by blending with other polymers. In the present study, we investigated CS-based nanofibers' fabrication by blending it with kefiran as a natural polysaccharide. A series of solutions with various CS to kefiran ratios were prepared and underwent electrospinning. The effects of main process parameters, including applied voltage and needle tip-to-collector distance on nanofibers' diameter and morphology, were also studied. Nanofibers containing 80% CS and 20% Kefiran with an average diameter of 81 ± 17 nm were successfully electrospun. Thermogravimetric analysis indicated the presence of both polymers in blend nanofibers. The diameter of CS/kefiran nanofibers increased with enhanced applied voltage, while needle tip-to-collector distance did not significantly affect the mean diameters. Appropriate viability of l929 cells on the obtained scaffolds was demonstrated utilizing Alamar blue assay. Also, cell attachment onto the fiber surface was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy. Results indicated that CS/kefiran nanofibrous scaffolds would be promising for tissue engineering applications.     

Preparation of electrospun silk fibroin nanofibers from solutions containing native silk fibrils

Electrospinning solutions containing native silk fibrils with varied diameter and length were firstly achieved by dissolving silk in CaCl₂/Formic acid solvents. The structure of nanofibrils significantly improved the spinnability of electrospinning solution. The diameter of electrospun silk fibroin (SF) nanofibers increased from 40 nm to 1.8 μm, which could be achieved through increasing the solution concentration from 2 to 10%, implying a good size control over a wide range in this process. The structure of SF nanofibers transferred from random coil to beta‐sheet, before and after ethanol treatment, respectively. The mechanical properties of the SF nanofibers were improved significantly with stress and strain at break of 11.15 MPa and 7.66% in dry state, and 3.32 MPa and 174.0% in wet state. The strategy for preparing SF nanofibers with improved mechanical properties and fiber diameter control over a wide range provides benefits for the application of this material. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 41236.     

Electrospinning of chitosan/poly(vinyl alcohol)/acrylic acid aqueous solutions

Chitosan bicomponent fibers were prepared via the electrospinning of chitosan/poly(vinyl alcohol)/acrylic acid aqueous solutions with different concentrations. With a 4% acrylic acid aqueous solution, when the chitosan/poly(vinyl alcohol) mass ratios were lower than 80/20, electrospinning nanofibers could be obtained. With a 90% acrylic acid aqueous solution, when the chitosan/poly(vinyl alcohol) mass ratios were less than 95/5, good nanofibers could be electrospun. The average diameter of the nanofibers gradually decreased, and its distribution became narrower as the poly(vinyl alcohol) concentration increased. Chitosan/poly(vinyl alcohol)/acrylic acid aqueous solutions could be electrospun at various concentrations by the adjustment of the chitosan and poly(vinyl alcohol) concentrations. The effects of the viscosity and conductivity of the blend solution on the morphologies of the fiber mats were also investigated. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 102: 5692–5697, 2006