(619d) Rheological Properties and Electrospinning of Chitosan-Oil Solutions

Despite recent progress in electrospinning, the parameters that govern the ability to spin a water-immiscible phase is limited. Previously, seven studies that have focused on spinning solutions that contain two immiscible phases, which have all utilized a surfactant to stabilize drops of one phase against coalescence. In this work, we explore the effect that chemically modifying chitosan, a “green” hydrophilic polymer has on its ability to stabilize oils and electrospin them into nanofiber mats. Two oils were investigated, cinnamaldehyde (CIN), which can chemically react with chitosan, as well as an oil that did not react with chitosan, hydrocinnamyl alcohol (H-CIN). Proton nuclear magnetic resonance was used to confirm the degree of deacetylation of the chitosans and their solution-based reactions to the oils. Stability testing and solution rheology were then correlated to the spinnability of chitosan/poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) precursor solutions.