Antibacterial chitosan-reinforced poly(vinyl alcohol) fibers produced via wet-spinning: Structural, thermal, mechanical, and antimicrobial properties relevant for biomedical use

Growing interest in natural and eco-friendly materials has driven the search for sustainable alternatives to synthetic antimicrobial agents.This study aims to develop antibacterial fibers based on poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) reinforced with chitosan (CTS) using an environmentally friendly wet-spinning process.Morphological analysis revealed surface irregularities that increased with CTS content, confirming its effect on fiber microstructure.Thermal analyses by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) showed that CTS incorporation decreased the melting temperature while improving thermal stability.Mechanical testing demonstrated enhanced tensile strength (σ s ) and Young's modulus (E) due to strong intermolecular interactions between CTS and the PVA matrix.The highest σ s (1045 MPa) was obtained at 3 wt% CTS, while E reached 7.1 GPa at 5 wt%.Antibacterial tests against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli confirmed strong activity attributed to -NH 2 groups of CTS disrupting bacterial membranes.These results highlight the potential of PVA/CTS fibers for biomedical applications such as wound dressing and antibacterial materials.