Abstract
To develop silk sericin (SS) as a potential antibacterial biomaterial, a novel composite of polyelectrolyte multilayers (PEMs) coated sericin/poly(vinyl alcohol) (SS/PVA) film modified with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) has been developed using a layer-by-layer assembly technique and ultraviolet-assisted AgNPs synthesis method. Ag ions were enriched by PEMs via the electrostatic attraction between Ag ions and PEMs, and then reduced to AgNPs in situ with the assistance of ultraviolet irradiation. PEMs facilitated the high-density growth of AgNPs and protected the synthesized AgNPs due to the formation of a 3D matrix, and thus endowed SS/PVA film with highly effective and durable antibacterial activity. Scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, X-ray diffractometry, Fourier transfer infrared spectroscopy, water contact angle, mechanical property and thermogravimetric analysis were applied to characterize SS/PVA, PEMs-SS/PVA and AgNPs-PEMs-SS/PVA films, respectively. AgNPs-PEMs-SS/PVA film has exhibited good mechanical performance, hydrophilicity, water absorption capability as well as excellent and durable antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and good stability and degradability. This study has developed a simple method to design and prepare AgNPs-PEMs-SS/PVA film for potential antibacterial application.
Highlights
Silk sericin (SS) is a globular protein produced by Bombyx mori [1], which contains 18 amino acids including the essential amino acids required by the human body [2]
poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) and poly(dimethyl diallyl ammonium chloride) (PDDA) are two weak polyelectrolytes with negative and positive charges, respectively, which are used to construct a stable polyelectrolyte multilayers (PEMs) on the surface of silk sericin (SS)/PVA film for the adsorption of Ag+
PAA and PDDA resulted in the formation of a three-dimensional matrix on the surface of sericin/poly(vinyl alcohol) (SS/PVA)
Summary
Silk sericin (SS) is a globular protein produced by Bombyx mori (silkworm) [1], which contains 18 amino acids including the essential amino acids required by the human body [2] Silk sericin could promote the adhesion and proliferation of human skin and accelerate burn or scald wound healing [5,6,7]. It is regarded as a good candidate for wound dressing material. Sericin itself is frangible and has a poor mechanical performance, Materials 2017, 10, 967; doi:10.3390/ma10080967 www.mdpi.com/journal/materials
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