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Electrospun polylactic acid-chitosan composite: a bio-based alternative for inorganic composites for advanced application

  • Engineering and Nano-engineering Approaches for Medical Devices
  • Original Research
  • Published:
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Abstract

Fabricating novel materials for biomedical applications mostly require the use of biodegradable materials. In this work biodegradable materials like polylactic acid (PLA) and chitosan (CHS) were used for designing electrospun mats. This work reports the physical and chemical characterization of the PLA–CHS composite, prepared by the electrospinning technique using a mixed solvent system. The addition of chitosan into PLA, offered decrease in fiber diameter in the composites with uniformity in the distribution of fibers with an optimum at 0.4wt% CHS. The fiber formation and the reduction in fiber diameter were confirmed by the SEM micrograph. The inverse gas chromatography and contact angle measurements supported the increase of hydrophobicity of the composite membrane with increase of filler concentration. The weak interaction between PLA and chitosan was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and thermal analysis. The stability of the composite was established by zeta potential measurements. Cytotoxicity studies of the membranes were also carried out and found that up to 0.6% CHS the composite material was noncytotoxic. The current findings are very important for the design and development of new materials based on polylactic acid-chitosan composites for environmental and biomedical applications.

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Acknowledgements

The first author is grateful to the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Government of India and University Grants Commission for the financial funding for this research by giving Junior Research Fellowship. We thank Dr. Jayakumar Rangasamy for his valuable advices regarding zeta potential measurement.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. International and Interuniversity Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Mahatma Gandhi University, Priyadarsini Hills P.O., Kottayam, Kerala, 686 560, India

    Merin Sara Thomas, Sabu Thomas & Laly A. Pothen

  2. Department of Chemistry, Mar Thoma College, Kuttapuzha P.O., Tiruvalla, Kerala, 689103, India

    Merin Sara Thomas

  3. Department of Chemistry, C.M.S. College, Kottayam, Kerala, 686001, India

    Merin Sara Thomas & Laly A. Pothen

  4. Food and Bioproduct Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, S7N0W4, Canada

    Prasanth K. S. Pillai

  5. Faculty of Exact Science and Engineering, University of Madeira, 9000-390, Funchal, Portugal

    Marisa Faria & Nereida Cordeiro

  6. CIIMAR, University of Porto, 4450-208, Matosinhos, Portugal

    Marisa Faria & Nereida Cordeiro

  7. Institute of Chemistry-UNESP, CP 355, Zip 14801-970, Araraquara, SP, 14801-970, Brazil

    Hernane Barud

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  1. Merin Sara Thomas
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Correspondence to Laly A. Pothen.

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Thomas, M.S., Pillai, P.K.S., Faria, M. et al. Electrospun polylactic acid-chitosan composite: a bio-based alternative for inorganic composites for advanced application. J Mater Sci: Mater Med 29, 137 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10856-018-6146-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10856-018-6146-1

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