The Possibility of Producing Uniform Nanofibers from Blends of Natural Biopolymers

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study was designed for the fabrication, characterization, and optimization of electrospinning blending three natural biopolymers including gelatin:chitosan:sodium alginate (G:CS:SA) solutions. Series of pure gelatin, 80:10:10, 60:20:20, 40:30:30, and 20:40:40 ratios of blends (G:CS:SA) were dissolved in aqueous acetic acid. The effects of solution property parameters blends were investigated through evaluation of the electrical conductivity, viscosity, and surface tension. The morphological properties of bio-nanofibers were studied using field-emission scanning electron microscopy to determine the diameter, bead formation, and the nanofiber distribution. The results showed that the increase in the percentage ratio of CS with SA higher than 40 % in G:CS:SA caused a decrease in polymer viscosity, average fiber diameter, and bead formation. The nanofibers produced from blending ratio 80:10:10 G:CS:SA had a uniformity and low numbers of bead formation. On the other hand, X-ray diffraction showed a higher crystallinity percentage and crystalline size for the aforementioned ratio; in addition, the Fourier-transform infrared showed interactions among the molecules of G, CS, and SA in nanofibers.