Effect of molecular weight on the properties of chitosan films prepared using electrostatic spraying technique

Chitosan (CH) films were prepared with different number-average molecular weight (MW, ca. 6.55, 12.93 and 47.70 kDa) and concentration (0.5, 0.75, and 1.0%) using electrostatic spraying (ES) technique. The effects of MW on film-forming solution properties, ES-atomization performances, and film characteristics were investigated. With increase of MW, conductivity, viscosity, surface tension, and contact angle of CH film-forming solution was raised due to the increases of proportions of amine-groups and degrees of CH chain entanglements. Spray cone angle was generally higher at 12.93 kDa, while the average median diameters of film-forming solution droplets were in the range of 6.3-12.0 μm, indicating well atomization effect. Water barrier property and tensile strength of CH films were improved along with increased MW, which was in accordance with the more completed, rougher and more crystalline microstructures implying by SEM, AFM and XRD. However, film antibacterial capacities against E.coli and L. innocua were descended with increased MW. Considering the overall properties, CH film prepared by 47.70 kDa at 0.5% possessed the best performances.