Novel fibers fabricated directly from chitin solution and their application as wound dressing

Abstract

For the first time, pure chitin fibers with relatively high strength, lustrous surface and circular cross section were spun directly from chitin solution dissolved in an NaOH–urea aqueous system with freezing. Subsequently, chitin nonwoven fabrics were constructed from the fresh wet fibers by hot pressing, and tested as wound dressings, showing excellent ability to accelerate healing, owing to the retainment of the intrinsic α-chitin structure.