Synthesis of Nanofibers from Alginate-Polyvinyl Alcohol using Electrospinning Methods

Alginate has been known as a polymer used for medical purposes such as wound dressing. PVA is a water soluble polymer, which has good fiber making ability and biocompatible. The alginate-PVA fibers are prepared using electrospinning method in aqueous solutions with 2% Alginate (2 wt%)/PVA (10 wt%) blended system in a volume ratios of 3/3, 2/3, and 1/3 and spinneret-collector spacing effect of 8, 10, and 12 cm. The functional group analysis shows the identity of the resulting compound and the absence of the formation of a new functional group. X-ray diffraction analysis shows an increasingly widening crystal peak and lowered intensity of the crystalline peak. SEM data show the effect of variation of alginate composition and spinneret-collector spacing on the resulting morphology of fiber. The 10 cm spinneret-collector distance shows a continuous fiber and is not bending. The alginate-PVA 3/3 (v/v) and 2/3 (v/v) fibers qualify nanofiber trades because they have a fiber diameter of about 172,242-326,244 nm. Based on the result of tensile strength value and percent elongation of alginate-PVA 3/3 (v/v) fiber can be used as wound dressing as it meets the standard of medical material.