Electrospun PVA nanofibers reinforced with chitosan and alginate biopolymers: Optimization of formulation and processing parameters for biomedical applications

Abstract

This study investigates the development of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)-based nanofibers reinforced with chitosan (CTS) and alginate (ALG), focusing on their structural and functional properties. Neat PVA, PVA/CTS, and PVA/ALG nanofibers were fabricated by electrospinning under varying parameters: PVA concentration (2–10 wt%), voltage (23–29 kV), feed rate (0.09–0.3 mL·h −1 ), and tip-to-collector distance (13–19 cm). Morphological analysis by SEM showed that within the investigated processing range, the most favorable morphology for PVA nanofibers was obtained around 6 wt% PVA, 29 kV, 0.3 mL·h −1 , and 19 cm, resulting in uniform, bead-free nanofibers with an average diameter of approximately 192 nm. The incorporation of 3 wt% CTS enhanced morphology and mechanical strength due to hydrogen bonding between –OH (PVA) and –NH 2 (CTS) groups, yielding flexible nanofibers (≈131 nm). Higher CTS content caused brittleness from restricted chain mobility. Conversely, ALG addition did not improve fiber quality, likely due to poor spinnability. The most favorable PVA, PVA/CTS, and PVA/ALG formulations identified within the investigated experimental domain exhibited improved structural integrity and mechanical performance, highlighting their potential for antibacterial materials, food packaging, and wound dressing applications.