Effect of vapor-phase glutaraldehyde crosslinking on electrospun starch fibers

• The exposed hydroxyl groups made electrospun starch fibers are water sensitive.
• The electrospun starch fibers are crosslinked by glutaraldehyde (GTA) vapor.
• The interaction between aldehyde group of GTA and hydroxyl of starch was formed.
• GTA crosslink improves water sensitive and mechanical property of starch fibers.
• Expand the possibility of starch fiber applications in some fields.

In this work, we have proven that starch nanofibrous membranes with high tensile strength, water stability and non-cytotoxicity can be produced by electrospinning of starch solution and post-treatment with GTA in vapor phase. GTA vapor phase crosslinking plays a key role in forming water-stable nanofiber membrane and improving the mechanical properties. Comparing with non-crosslinked starch fibers, the crosslinked fibers are increased by nearly 10 times in tensile strength. The crosslinked starch fibrous membranes are non-cytotoxic. They may find applications in the fields of tissue engineering, pharmaceutical therapy and medical.