PRODUCTION OF ALGINATE, CHITOSAN AND ALGINATE/CHITOSAN FIBERS AND EVALUATION OF PHYSICOCHEMICAL, MORPHOLOGICAL AND CYTOTOXIC PROPERTIES

In this study fibers from alginate, chitosan and hybrid alginate/chitosan with and without glycerol were synthesized. The fibers were characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), and Thermogravimetry (TGA). Properties such as tensile, swelling, weight loss and cytotoxicity were evaluated. The water absorption considering a period of 30 days for alginate fibers without glycerol were 161% , 167% for alginate with glycerol, 100% for chitosan, chitosan with glycerol 158% and 215% e 156% for the hybrid fibers without and with glycerol respectively. The weight loss was 26% for alginate without glycerol, 28% for alginate with glycerol, 15% for chitosan without glycerol, 28% for chitosan with glycerol, 23% for hybrid without glycerol and 27% for hybrid with glycerol fibers. All fibers had an average diameter between 75 and 100 µm. The glycerol increased the fiber elongation 24% for alginate fibers, 93% for chitosan fibers and 13% for hybrid fibers. All fibers without and with glycerol showed no cytotoxicity. The produced fibers satisfied the analysis criteria and presented potential for technical textile production for biomedical applications.