Effect of Nonionic Surfactant on the Electrospinning of Chitosan

Chitosan(CS) was dissolved in trifluoroacetic acid to fabricate CS nanofibers by electrospinning. The effects of solution concentration and the nonionic surfactant on electrospun nanofibers morphology were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results showed that the appropriate solution concentration of chitosan for electrospinning was from 3% to 6%; Statistical significance test proved that solution concentration was the important factor to the fibers diameter; Spinnability of solution was improved by addition of nonionic surfactant TX-15. The fine morphology of chitosan nanofiber could be obtained by adding 2.5% wt of TX-15 into eletrospinning solution with 5% concentration.