Biologically active fibers based on chitosan-coated lyocell fibers

The possibilities of obtaining biologically active cellulose–chitosan fibers were examined. An effective two-stage method was developed. The first stage involves the formation of dialdehyde cellulose by the potassium periodate oxidation of lyocell fibers, which is able to form Schiff’s base with chitosan. In the second stage, chitosan-coated lyocell fibers were prepared by subsequent treatment of oxidized lyocell fibers with a solution of chitosan in aqueous acetic acid. The impact of this two-stage protocol on the chemical and physical properties of lyocell fibers was evaluated by determining carbonyl group content, fineness and tensile strength of fibers, as well as chitosan content in the composite cellulose–chitosan fibers. Antibacterial activity of the chitosan-coated lyocell fibers against different pathogenens: Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, was confirmed in vitro experiments.