Abstract:

In order to improve the silver releasing properties of chitosan fibers, acetic anhydride was used to modify chitosan fibers for converting the amine groups of fibers into acetamide groups, and consequently decreasing the binding force between the fiber and silver ions. The water absorption and silver releasing properties of the original and acetylated samples were compared. The experimental results showed that the ordered structure of chitosan dibers were damaged by the acetylation treatment, leading to easy penertration of water into the fibers. The partially acetylated chitosan fiber showed a high absorption capacity.Owing to the conversion of free amine groups into acetamide groups, the acetylated fibers can release more silver ions  with the increase in the degree of acetylation when wetting.

Key words: chitosan, silver containing chitosan fiber, wound dressing, absorption property, acetylation treatment