(1 → 3)-β-d-Glucan nanofibers from paramylon via electrospinning

(1 → 3)-β-d-Glucans of paramylon from Euglena gracilis were dissolved in concentrated formic acid and electrospinning was conducted using a newly designed setup. The diameter of the as-spun fibers ranged from 0.05 to 1 μm, and most of the fibers were straight and aligned parallel to two arbitrary fins (electrodes). By polarized optical microscopy, we determined that the anisotropic texture of the fibers was indicative of parallel alignment of the molecular chains to the fiber axis. The wide-angle X-ray scattering curve for the fibers showed amorphous halo scattering in spite of the high crystallinity of starting paramylon powder.