This study aimed to develop hybrid electrospun chitosan⁻phospholipid nanofibers and investigate the effect of phospholipid (P) content and chitosans (Ch) molecular weights (Mw) and degree of acetylation (DA), on the morphological, mechanical and mucoadhesive properties of the nanofibers. Electrospun Ch/P nanofibers exhibited a smooth and uniform surface with average diameters ranging from 300 to 1000 nm, as observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The average diameter of the nanofibers was observed to increase with the increase of the Mw and degree of deacetylation of Ch, and phospholipid content. The elastic and adhesive properties of the nanofibers were determined by atomic force microscopy, and displayed higher values for higher Mw and lower DA Ch used. The elastic modulus of electrospun Ch/P hybrid fibers determined for the different conditions tested was found to be in the range of 500 and 1400 MPa. Furthermore, electrospun Ch/P nanofibers displayed mucoadhesive properties expressed by the work of adhesion calculated after the compression of the nanofibers against a section of pig small intestine. Our results showed that the increase in phospholipid content and DA of Ch decrease the work of adhesion, while the increase of Mw resulted in slightly higher work of adhesion of the nanofibers.
Keywords: chitosan; elastic modulus; electrospun fibers; mucoadhesion; phospholipids.