Preparation and radiopaque properties of chitosan/BaSO4 composite fibers

Chitin and chitosan have been extensively investigated as a matrix of organic/inorganic composite. Barium, one of the radiopaque inorganic materials, can provide chitosan with radiopaque property by blending of chitosan and BaSO4. The filtered and deaerated chitosan/BaCl2 solutions were extruded into NaOH and Na2SO4 coagulation bath through a nozzle by gear pump. BaSO4 was synthesized by the reaction between BaCl2 and Na2SO4 in the coagulation bath, in which acidic chitosan solution was also solidified at the same time. In XRD, the introduction of BaSO4 into chitosan fibers reduced the inherent peak of chitosan fibers. In angiographic observation, chitosan/BaSO4 hybrid fibers exhibited the clear contrast images which become clear with an increase in BaSO4 content.