Nanofibers made from acetylparamylons by a soaking method

Abstract

Abstract A novel method was developed for preparing nanofibers from acetylparamylons, which are acetylated derivatives of a β-1,3-glucan (paramylon) produced by Euglena cells. This method was primarily based on the self-assembling tendency of β-1,3-glucans. First, a solid consisting of aggregated nanofibers (∼100 nm in diameter) was precipitated by pouring a homogeneous reaction mixture containing acetylparamylons into water. Second, the solid precipitate was soaked in a halogenated solvent. Scanning probe microscopic observations confirmed that soaking in chloroform liberated nanofibers (105.0 ± 8.9 nm in diameter and over ∼7.0 μm in length) from the solid precipitates of acetylparamylon with an acetylation degree of ∼1.4.