Antimicrobial fibers based on chitosan and polyvinyl-alcohol

A series of antimicrobial fibers with different weight ratio of chitosan (CS) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) were fabricated via a primarily industrialized trail of wet-spinning method, and the morphology and structure of the resulting fibers were studied with the aid of scanning electron micrography (SEM), infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The CP60 blend fiber (60 % chitosan content) was confirmed as the best optimal sample among the blend fibers owing to strong intermolecular hydrogen bonds between PVA and chitosan and showed the maximum mechanical, antistatic, moisture absorption/desorption properties. The CP60 also exhibited good antimicrobial effects against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus as the chitosan fiber and could be recommended as the alternative material for the wound dressing and the food packing.