Chitosan Nanofibrous Scaffold Fabricated via Electrospinning: The Effect of Processing Parameters on the Nanofiber Morphology

Chitosan nanofibers were electrospun by using chitosan and triflouroacetic acid (TFA) solution as a solvent. Morphological characteristics of chitosan nanofibers fabricated by the electrospinning technique in different applied voltages (15–25 kV) and tip-to-collector distances (TCD) (5–15 cm) were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). SEM images of electrospun nanofibers showed that morphology and diameter of the nanofibers were mainly affected by applied voltage. It also has shown that TCD directly affects spinnability and fiber diameter and at a very small distance (5 cm) droplets were formed due to electrospraying. The mechanical, thermal, and physicochemical properties of the chitosan nanofibrous membranes were investigated by tensile testing, TGA, porosimetery, and FT-IR analyses, respectively.