Antibacterial Polysulfone Nanofiber Functionalized with Green Silver Nanoparticles by a Facile Wetting Method for Microbial Corrosion Protection

Abstract

The introduction of antimicrobial nanoparticles into nanofiber coatings is significant for enhancing microbial corrosion protection. Here, electrospun polysulfone nanofiber (PSU-Nf) and PSU-Nf functionalized with biogenic silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) coatings (PSU-Nf-AgNPs) used for Cobalt (Co) corrosion resistance in a marine environment containing Aeromonas eucrenophila (A. eucrenophila). We utilized the barrier function of the PSU-Nf and the bacterial inhibition property of the AgNPs that are synthesized using bacteria. The thickness of nanofiber coatings was 233.11 ± 33.64 µm analyzed by optical microscope and beadless morphology of nanofibers was observed using scanning electron microscope (SEM). The corrosion behavior of Co coated with PSU-Nf and PSU-Nf-AgNPs in abiotic and in the presence of the bacterium environment was investigated via polarization techniques and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Corrosion analysis reveals that the charge transfer resistance (Rct) increased because of the addition of the nanostructure resulting in a reduction in corrosion rate. SEM micrographs show Co surface was severely damaged by a microbial corrosive attack with severe crevices. However, the PSU-Nf and especially PSU-Nf-AgNPs coated Co surface was still covered by nanofiber coatings as the bacteria colony was not noticed. In addition, the results of the performing bacterial disk diffusion method indicated that electrospun PSU-Nf-AgNPs have good antibacterial activity against Gram-positive, Gram-negative, and model biofilm bacterium. It was found that the uncoated Co surface had severe crevices and offered poor corrosion resistance under mineral salt medium with A. eucrenophila strain. Therefore, PSU-Nf-AgNPs coated Co exhibited better corrosion resistance in mineral salt medium containing bacteria.