Preparation of chitosan microfibres using electro-wet-spinning and their electroactuation properties

Submicron chitosan fibres were prepared using an electro-wet-spinning process. The chitosan solution was ejected into a coagulation medium containing different concentrations of ethyl alcohol in aqueous sodium hydroxide (0, 30, 50 and 70% (v/v)). Submicron chitosan fibres were obtained using a coagulation medium containing 50% (v/v) of ethyl alcohol in an applied electric field of 15 kV with a 10 cm spinning distance. The density of the coagulation medium controlled the uniformity of the resulting fibres. When a swollen chitosan fibre hydrogel was placed between a pair of electrodes, it contracted in an applied electric field and showed a stepwise contraction behaviour that depended on the magnitude of the electrical stimulus. Chitosan fibre hydrogels showed a fast and reversible electroactuation under low applied potentials. This type of fibre has potential application in artificial muscles.