Electrospun Polyethylene Terephthalate Nanofibers Loaded with Silver Nanoparticles: Novel Approach in Anti-Infective Therapy.

Alexandru Mihai Grumezescu,Alina Maria Holban,Bogdan Stefan Vasile,Mariana Carmen Chifiriuc,Marcel Roșu,Cristina Chircov,Anton Ficai,Hildegard Herman,Alexandra Elena Stoica,Cornel Baltă,Ecaterina Andronescu,Anca Hermenean,Sami Gharbia,Mihnea-Ștefan Dima-Bălcescu

doi:10.3390/jcm8071039

Abstract

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is a major pollutant polymer, due to its wide use in food packaging and fiber production industries worldwide. Currently, there is great interest for recycling the huge amount of PET-based materials, derived especially from the food and textile industries. In this study, we applied the electrospinning technique to obtain nanostructured fibrillary membranes based on PET materials. Subsequently, the recycled PET networks were decorated with silver nanoparticles through the chemical reduction method for antimicrobial applications. After the characterization of the materials in terms of crystallinity, chemical bonding, and morphology, the effect against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, as well as fungal strains, was investigated. Furthermore, in vitro and in vivo biocompatibility tests were performed in order to open up potential biomedical applications, such as wound dressings or implant coatings. Silver-decorated fibers showed lower cytotoxicity and inflammatory effects and increased antibiofilm activity, thus highlighting the potential of these systems for antimicrobial purposes.

Highlights

Electrospinning is a simple and versatile technique, used to fabricate continuous fibers from a large number of polymers, with diameters ranging from micrometers to several nanometers [1,2,3]
Silver nanoparticles obtained through a silver nitrate reduction reaction were characterized by transmission electron microscopy
The selected area electron diffraction (SAED) pattern allowed the identification of the crystalline phases present in the sample, with NanoAg being the only crystalline phase

Summary

Introduction

Electrospinning is a simple and versatile technique, used to fabricate continuous fibers from a large number of polymers, with diameters ranging from micrometers to several nanometers [1,2,3]. The resulting fibrous mats are characterized by large effective surface areas, continuously interconnected pores, high surface roughness, and usually high porosity [4,5] It is a highly versatile technique, allowing for the development of structures with various morphologies, including core–shell, hollow, and yarn, only by varying the parameters of the electrospinning, i.e., voltage, feed rate, collector type, distance, and nozzle design [6,7]. Most of the annual world’s consumption of PET estimated at 13 million tons comes from the packaging industry, raising great concern for environmental pollution [17], with an increasing scientific focus on developing reuse and recycling technologies of PET materials In this regard, electrospinning is an interesting approach for the fabrication of non-woven nanofiber mats that could reduce environmental waste materials by producing recycled PET materials that could replace previously used materials [18,19]. This approach has the potential to significantly decrease the amount of PET waste, by reusing this material in other non-packaging applications

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