Preparation and antibacterial properties of chitosan/polyvinyl alcohol nanofibrous mats using different organic acids as solvents

In this paper, three kinds of environmentally friendly chitosan (CS)/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nanofibrous mats were prepared by electrospinning using low concentrations of acetic acid (AA), succinic acid (SA) and citric acid (CA) as solvents. For the first time, a systematic study on the effect of different organic acids on the properties of CS/PVA nanofibres was performed, which avoided the disadvantages of the use of strong acids or toxic organic acids as solvents. This study aimed to prepare CS/PVA nanofibrous mats to improve the antibacterial effect and biocompatibility. The results showed that the water stability of the prepared CS/PVA/CA nanofibrous mat was higher than that of pure PVA nanofibre mats, and CS/PVA/CA displayed optimal antibacterial activity and biocompatibility. Therefore, the CS/PVA/CA nanofibrous mat offers great potential for antibacterial applications.

Automated summary

In this study, environmentally friendly chitosan/polyvinyl alcohol nanofibrous mats were prepared using acetic acid, succinic acid, and citric acid as solvents. The effects of different organic acids on the properties of the nanofibres were systematically studied. The results showed that the nanofibrous mat prepared using citric acid exhibited higher water stability and optimal antibacterial activity and biocompatibility.