Some Aspects on Preparation and Properties of Alginate and Chitosan Fibres
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Some Aspects on Preparation and Properties of Alginate and Chitosan Fibres Henryk Struszczyk Institute of Chemical Fibres Skłodowskiej-Curie 19/27 90-570 Lodz, Poland e-mail: [email protected] ABSTRACT Demand for special fibres produced from natural polymers such as alginate, chitin or chitosan, starch, keratin or biosynthesised cellulose is a function of their unique properties and growing areas of application. Two types of fibres made from chitosan and alginate are discussed in this paper. The wet-spinning method was applied for their manufacture using modified spinning solutions of the polymers. The properties and some of the application areas of chitosan and alginate fibres are discussed. INTRODUCTION The demand for special fibres produced from natural polymers such as alginate, chitin or chitosan, starch, keratin or biosynthesised cellulose is a function of their unique properties and growing areas of application. Fibrous materials always play an important role in special applications such as medicine [1]. Chitin, poly (2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucopyranose), as the second most common polysaccharide world-wide is prepared on the base of shellfish waste, certain fungi and the cell walls of some specific plants. Chitosan, poly (2-amino-2-deoxy-Dglucopyranose), obtained by deacetylation of chitin, is characterised by several valuable properties such as biocompatibility, bioactivity, biodegradability, film- and fibre-forming ability and high adhesivity [1-2]. Chitosan is practically a copolymer of 2-amino-2-deoxy-Dglucopyranose and 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucopyranose units. Its similarity to hyaluronam, beside its capacity to release glucosamine and N-acetylglucosamine monomers and oligomers during biodegradation, allows this biopolymer to be used as an excellent material for healing wounds. Chitosan and its modificates have been administered to humans in forms including dressings for wounded soft and bone tissues, anticholesterolemic dietary foods, cosmetics and carriers for controlled delivery of drugs. Several special properties of chitosan such as its antibacterial, antimetastatic, antiuricennic, antisteporic and immunoadjuvant qualities indicate this biopolymer’s great potential in alleviating diseases, preventing sickness or contributing to good health [3-4]. Chitosan fibres can be used in many applications such e.g. manufacture of wound dressing, surgical sutures, artificial limbs, sanitary fibrous materials, textile materials for waste-water treatment or special biostatic uses or fibrous carrier for bioactive substances [1,5]. Several methods for preparing chitosan fibres are used, most frequently employing acetic acid as a solvent for the spinning process [6-8]. Alginates are linear copolymers of β-(1→4)-linked D-mannuronic acid and α-(1→4)-linked L-guluronic acid units, which are also the most abundant marine biopolymer existing in the cell walls and intracellular spaces of brown seaweed. Alginates are not random copolymers, but consist of blocks similar and strictly alternating residues, each of whi
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