Synthesis and application studies of chitosan nanofibers

Abstract

Chitosan (CS), as one of the widely sourced biodegradable biopolymers, shows great potential due to its excellent physicochemical properties. However, the low mechanical strength, limited inherent functionality, and small specific surface area of native CS restrict its broader application. Therefore, this paper presents advances in the preparation and application of CS-based electrostatic spinning to address above shortcomings. CS nanofiber with antimicrobial, antioxidant and biocompatible properties can be additionally endowed with high specific surface area, high strength and multiple active sites by electrostatic spinning technique. This work focuses on three main aspects: the extraction process of CS, and the effect of the electrostatic spinning preparation process on the properties of nanofibers, as well as the progress of CS-based modified fibers obtained by electrostatic spinning for applications in biomedicine, environmental protection and food packaging. Meanwhile, the challenges in large-scale production and performance optimization of CS nanofibrous materials are also analyzed. But with continuous progress in research and technology, we believe that CS electrospun nanofibers are expected to play an important role in driving technological innovation.