Polyacrylonitrile nanofiber mats containing titania/AgNP composite nanoparticles for antibacterial applications

Abstract

Abstract Here in we present our research on electrospun polyacrylonitrile nanofiber films embedded with titania/AgNP nanoparticles for sustained antibacterial applications. Although silver possesses excellent antimicrobial characteristics and have been extensively exploited in applications where protection from microbial species and bacterial colonization is needed. Recently, it was discovered that silver may be allergic to skin and may induce detrimental side-effects such as argyria and argyrosis. Excess utilization of silver may even cause carcinoma. In continuation of our research on preparation of biologically safe antibacterial materials producing longer timed protection, here we proposed electrospun polyacrylonitrile nanofiber mats containing titania/AgNP composite nanoparticles. The titania/AgNP nanoparticles were prepared using polydopamine hydrochloride (pdopa) as adhesive and reducing agent. The nanoparticles were then added into polyacrylonitrile polymer solution and electrospun to fabricate polyacrylonitrile/titania/AgNP composite nanofiber mats (PTAgNP). The samples were characterized with XRD, TEM, SEM, FT-IR, SEM-EDX and antibacterial assays. Synthesis of the titania/AgNP was confirmed by XRD, TEM and EDX analysis. The nanofibers were studied with SEM, XRD, TEM and antibacterial tests. The SEM observations confirmed regular morphology of the nanofibers. The XRD and TEM analysis evidenced titania/AgNP contents in the polyacrylonitrile nanofibers. The antibacterial assays demonstrated excellent bacterial growth inhibition on agar plates and in the liquid medium. The samples were observed to inhibit growth of E. coli and S. aureus bacteria for up to 120 h. The quantitative bactericidal assay (relative cell viability, %) demonstrated 0% bacteria cell viability by polyacrylonitrile nanofibers containing 10 wt% of titania/AgNP nanoparticles.