A systematic investigation of solution and technological parameters for the fabrication and characterization of poly (vinyl alcohol–chitosan electrospun nanofibers

AbstractNanomaterials, particularly nanofibers are demonstrating exceptional potential for medical applications considered as promising systems for the integration of drug molecules, providing an enhancement of drug effectiveness and safety, while reducing drug side effects. Nanofibers based on two polymeric matrices poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and chitosan (CS) have been demonstrated to be safe and promising materials for the drug integration and targeted drug delivery. This article studied the factors influencing on the fabrication and properties of PVA–CS nanofibers, including the impact of solution components on solution structure, rheological properties, electrospinning technology parameters, as well as the structure and thermomechanical properties of the obtained nanofibers have been investigated in details. The increasing of acetic acid concentration has the effect of pH lowering as well as electrical conductivity while heightening its viscosity. The pH, conductivity, and viscosity values of the solution rises as the CS concentration increases. Based on the Hildebrand‐Scatchard solubility theory, calculated Teas diagrams that account intermolecular interactions allow to predict low‐defect nanofibers based on PVA–CS in binary solvent systems with a greater concentration of hydrogen bonds. The optimal solution content and electrospinning parameters were determined. Infrared spectroscopy confirmed that the two polymer materials have a good interaction and the acetic acid was completely separated from the PVA–CS nanofibers. The XRD spectrum reveals that the crystal lattice parameters of the nanofibers change according to the polymer ratio. The polymers ratio also influence on the thermal and tensile properties. Such biosafe polymer materials may be considered as the promising drug delivery systems with the targeted mode of action.