Electrospun cellulose acetate and poly(vinyl chloride) nanofiber mats containing silver nanoparticles for antifungi packaging

Abstract

Nanofiber mats of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) and cellulose acetate (CA) encapsulated with silver (Ag) nanoparticles were fabricated via electrospinning for potential use as antimicrobial food packaging materials. 16 wt% PVC was prepared in 1:1 w/w tetrahydrofuran—N,N-dimethylformamide while 16 wt% CA was prepared in 3:2 (w/w) Acetone—N,N-dimethylformamide. Scanning electron microscopy analysis showed that thinner fibers could be electrospun from cellulose acetate as compared to poly(vinyl chloride) at the same solution concentrations with fiber diameters ranging from 70 to 130 nm for cellulose acetate and 180–340 nm for poly(vinyl chloride). Nanofiber diameter reduced with addition and increase of silver nanoparticles from 0 to 1 wt%. Due to the smaller cellulose acetate nanofiber diameter, its mats had lower air permeability rates. Tensile strength tests indicated that the nanofiber mats had marginal to good tensile strength values relative to film based packaging materials. Antimicrobial examination of the nanofiber mats against yeast and mould indicated that there was inhibited growth of the microorganisms on mats containing silver nanoparticles.