Fabrication of Coaxial Wet-Spun Graphene-Chitosan Biofibers

• Main Authors: Mirabedini, Azadeh, Foroughi, Javad, Thompson, Brianna, Wallace, Gordon G.
• Other Authors: School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2015
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/101146; http://hdl.handle.net/10220/38695
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

One-step continuous wet-spinning of coaxial electroactive fibres of chitosan/graphene oxide (Chit/GO) via a facile method is introduced for the first time, eliminating the need for post-treatment processes. Spinnability of coaxial fibres as well as their characterization for several properties is investigated. L-ascorbic acid was found to reduce graphene oxide under mild conditions to create conductivity in the final fibre. As-prepared fibres were found to be cytocompatible with good electrical conductivity and mechanical properties. SEM images from the cross-section of Chit/GO fibres showed an irregular shaped multifilament GO fibre covered with a cylinder-shaped sheath of chitosan. Coaxial fibres had an ultimate tensile stress and elastic modulus that increased 8 500% and 3 350%, respectively compared to the graphene oxide fibres alone.