Wet‐spinning and applications of functional fibers based on chitin and chitosan

A series of novel human‐made functional fibers (biofibers) based on chitin and chitosan are prepared by the wet‐spinning and the post chemical modification of chitosan fiber. The wet‐spinning gives rise to a series of biofibers: chitin, chitosan, chitin‐cellulose, chitosan‐cellulose, chitin‐silk fibroin, chitin‐glycosaminoglycans, chitin‐cellulose‐silk fibroin, chitosan‐tropocollagen, and chitin‐cellulose‐silk fibroin. The post chemical modification of chitosan fiber gives rise to a series of chemically modified fibers: N ‐acylchitosans, N ‐arylidene‐ and N ‐alkylidene‐chitosans, N ‐acetylchitosan (chitin)‐tropocollagen, and chitosan‐transition metal complexes. Some of the current and potential applications of these biofibers are described.