Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Cross-linking chitosan nanofibers.

Jessica D Schiffman1, Caroline L Schauer

  • 1Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA.

Biomacromolecules
|February 13, 2007
PubMed
Summary

Researchers electrospun various chitosan grades into nanofibrous mats. Glutaraldehyde vapor cross-linking improved solubility and insolubility in various solutions, but decreased mechanical properties and altered fiber behavior.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Kombucha-Derived Cellulose Non-wovens: Growth Optimization, Mechanics, and Recycling.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

Aqueous Processing of Stoichiometric and Nonstoichiometric Materials from Complex Coacervates.

Accounts of materials research·2026
Same author

Aqueous Processing of Mechanically Robust, Dense Films from Carboxymethyl Cellulose-Based Coacervates.

ACS applied polymer materials·2026
Same author

Polydimethylsiloxane gel thickness and stiffness affect the initial adhesion of <i>Escherichia coli</i> and <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>.

RSC applied polymers·2025
Same author

Molecularly Shielded, On-Demand, Ultrasound-Cured Polymer Networks.

Macromolecules·2025
Same author

Antifouling Activity of Bottlebrush Network Hydrogels.

ACS applied bio materials·2025

Area of Science:

  • Biomaterials Science
  • Polymer Chemistry
  • Nanotechnology

Background:

  • Chitosan is a versatile biopolymer with potential in various applications.
  • Electrospinning is a common technique for creating nanofibrous materials.
  • Improving chitosan's solubility and mechanical properties is crucial for its applications.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To electrospin various grades of chitosan into nanofibrous mats.
  • To cross-link chitosan nanofibers using glutaraldehyde (GA) vapor.
  • To evaluate the effects of cross-linking on chitosan's solubility, structure, and mechanical properties.

Main Methods:

  • Electrospinning of low, medium, high molecular weight, and practical-grade chitosan.
  • Cross-linking using glutaraldehyde (GA) vapor via Schiff base imine functionality.
  • Analysis using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Kawabata microtensile testing.
  • Solubility tests in acidic, basic, and aqueous solutions.

Main Results:

  • Successful electrospinning of various chitosan grades into nanofibrous mats.
  • Glutaraldehyde vapor cross-linking significantly improved chitosan solubility and rendered it insoluble in various solutions.
  • Cross-linked medium molecular weight chitosan fibers showed increased diameter, decreased Young's modulus, and loss of pseudo-yield point, indicating increased brittleness.

Conclusions:

  • Glutaraldehyde vapor cross-linking is an effective method to enhance chitosan nanofiber properties.
  • Cross-linking improves solubility and insolubility in specific solutions but can impact mechanical strength and fiber behavior.
  • Further investigation is needed to understand glutaraldehyde penetration and its precise effects on chitosan fiber structure.

Related Experiment Videos