Preparation and characterization of chitosan-hydroxybenzotriazole/polyvinyl alcohol blend nanofibers by the electrospinning technique

Nanofibers of a chitosan-hydroxybenzotriazole (CS-HOBt)/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) blend were successfully prepared using electrospinning techniques. In this study, nanofibers were fabricated without the use of standard organic solvents or organic acids. CS was dissolved with HOBt in distilled water, and this solution of CS-HOBt (2 wt%) with PVA (10 wt%), blended in different weight ratios, was electrospun to obtain nanofibers. The morphology, diameter, and structure of the electrospun nanofibers were investigated. SEM images showed that the morphology and diameter of the nanofibers were mainly affected by the weight ratio of the blend. Nanofibers were observed when the CS content was less than 50 wt%. The average diameter of the nanofibers was 190–282 nm, and this average diameter gradually decreased with increasing CS content. Cytotoxicity tests of the nanofiber mats showed that the fibers were non-toxic to human fibroblast cells. Hence, these biodegradable nanofibers may be suitable for drug delivery or tissue engineering applications.