Investigating the synthesis and characterization of a novel “green” H2 O2-assisted, water-soluble chitosan/polyvinyl alcohol nanofiber for environmental end uses

Abstract

The present work highlights the formation of a novel green nanofiber based oH2 O2-assisted water-soluble chitosan/polyvinyl alcohol (WS CHT/PVA) by using water as aecofriendly solvent and genipin used as a nontoxic cross-linker. The 20/80 blend ratio was founto have the most optimum uniform fiber morphology. WS CHT retained the same structure aWIS CHT. The prepared nanofibers were characterized by Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourietransform spectroscopy (FTIR), Thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA), Differential scanning calorimete(DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Water Contact Angle (WCA) and Ultraviolet-visible spectroscop(UV-vis). During electrospinning, the crystalline microstructure of the WS CHT/PVA underwenbetter solidification and after cross-linking there was an increase in the melting temperature of thfiber. Swelling ratio studies revealed noticeable increase in hydrophilicity with increase of WS CHwhich was further demonstrated by the decrease of contact angle from 64.74◦ to 14.68◦. WS CHT/PVnanofiber mats exhibit excellent UV blocking protection with less than 5% transmittance valuand also showed improved in vitro drug release properties with stable release for longer duratio(cross-linked fibers) and burst release for shorter duration (uncross linked) fibers. Finally ouexperimental data demonstrates excellent adsorption ability of Colour Index (C.I.) reactive black (RB5) due to protonated amino groups.