Antioxidation Effect of Graphene Oxide on Silver Nanoparticles and Its Use in Antibacterial Applications

Abstract

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have drawn great attention due to their outstanding antibacterial effect in a wide range of applications, such as biomass packaging materials, wound dressings, flexible sensors, etc. However, the oxidation of AgNPs limits the antibacterial effect. Firstly, the effects of pretreatment methods on the antibacterial property of AgNPs were investigated by the shake flask method and agar diffusion plate method. Secondly, graphene oxide/silver nanoparticle (GO/AgNPs) nanocomposite prepared by an in-situ growth method was used as antibacterial filler for polyacrylate emulsion via a blending method. The antibacterial mechanism of GO/AgNPs was revealed by comparing the actual contents of oxygen with the theoretically calculated contents of oxygen. Finally, the polyacrylate/graphene oxide/silver nanoparticles (PA/GO/AgNPs) composite emulsion was applied onto a leather surface using a layer-by-layer spraying method to improve the leather’s antibacterial properties. The results showed that ultraviolet irradiation could better maintain the antibacterial property of AgNPs, while GO could improve the dispersibility of AgNPs and prevent their oxidation. The leather finished with the PA/GO/AgNPs-2 wt% composite emulsion showed the highest bacteriostatic rate of 74%, demonstrating its great potential in the application of antibacterial leather products.