Electrospinning production of polymer nanofibers containing Ag nanoparticles or carbon nanotubes

Abstract

Recent years’ electrospinning technology for fabrication of nanofibers of polymers with incorporation of nanoparticles made noticeable progress in different fields, including biomedicine due to their biocompatibility, adhesiveness, antibacterial properties, and sterile nature. In this study, the electrospinning production of antibacterial polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nanofibers containing silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) was considered. The synthesis of the AgNPs was performed from the polymer-encapsulated AgNO3 precursor material in water with Ag atom reduction by an ultrasonication treatment. The effect of the AgNO3 concentration and the sonication time on the size and quantity of the obtained AgNPs on the PVA scaffold was studied. Absorption spectra were exploited for the control of the appearance of AgNPs in the suspension. From the peak position of the plasmon band observed in the absorption spectrum of the composite the average diameter of the as-prepared AgNPs was estimated as 55–60 nm. As it follows from scanning electron microscopy images the diameter of PVA:AgNPs nanofibers is about 250 nm. Nanofibers formed by polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) with incorporation of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) were fabricated from the PVP alcohol solution containing SWNTs. The diameter of the nanofibers was in the range of 1–3 μm. Using a dielectric substrate and the collector of a special shape, a mat of fibers with preferred fiber orientation was prepared. Our estimation shows that about 90% of the fibers are oriented.