Microfibrillated Cellulose-Silver Nanocomposite Based PVA Hydrogels and Their Enhanced Physical, Mechanical and Antibacterial Properties

Md Sabbir Hasan,M Minnatul Karim,Muhammad Angkan Khan,Jannat Al Foisal,Md Hasanuzzaman,Rownok Jahan,Md Shamsul Alam,M A Gafur,G M Arifuzzaman Khan,Md Abdus Sabur

doi:10.1007/s10924-022-02406-4

Abstract

Modification of cellulose with silver nanoparticles produces various nanocomposites with significantly developed properties. This work aims to prepare a PVA hydrogel modified with cellulose/silver nanocomposites having potential applications in various fields including biomedical, antimicrobial inhibition, textile wears, etc. Microfibrillated cellulose/silver nanocomposites hydrogels were prepared in the aqueous medium with aid of microwave-assisted heating. Different percentages of nanocomposites were incorporated in PVA hydrogel to enhance the properties of PVA hydrogel. Prepared products were characterized by UV–Visible spectroscopy, FTIR, TGA, XRD, and SEM. The swelling (in water saline, acidic and alkaline solution), tensile, thermal, and antibacterial properties were also examined. The formation of Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs) in the (MFC-Ag)NC was confirmed by XRD and UV–Vis spectra. UV–Vis spectra showed the characteristic peaks of Ag in the UV–Vis spectra at 425 nm. Final products exhibited significant porosity and maximum swelling of 519.44%. The thermal stability of hydrogel increased with an increased percentage of (MFC-Ag)NC. Hydrogels exhibited significant antimicrobial inhibition against multidrug-resistant microorganisms, including Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Highlights

Due to the unique physical properties hydrogels is an attractive material being used in the various field starting from biomedical, adsorption, textiles, etc
Numerous studies have been revealed that composites of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogels can be prepared with different compounds including sodium alginate, hyaluronan (HA), modified montmorillonite clay, Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs), cellulose nanocrystals (CNC), microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), cellulose fibers (CF), holocellulose (HC), gum acacia, bacterial cellulose (BC), microfibrillated cellulose (MFC), and chitosan [15]
We have considered the antibacterial activity of synthesized hydrogels against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria

Summary

Introduction

Due to the unique physical properties hydrogels is an attractive material being used in the various field starting from biomedical, adsorption, textiles, etc. Hydrophilic nature and some desired characteristics of PVA including good self-healing capability, biocompatibility, and nontoxicity make it suitable in the field of biomedical [8]–[10]. The presence of the hydroxyl group makes PVA reactive and can be functionalized to form hydrogels by chemical and physical means of crosslinking with many types of functional groups. Physical crosslinking through hydrogen bonds is a common technique for PVA hydrogels synthesis. Borax produces borate ions in the aqueous medium and crosslinked chemically with PVA with the formation of extensive hydrogen bonds remarkably increase the viscoelasticity of the PVA in aqueous solutions which leads to the formation of hydrogel’s 3D bridge network. Borax produces borate ions in aqueous medium form complexes with hydroxyl groups of PVA that act as a temporary cross-linker [11]–[14]. Numerous studies have been revealed that composites of PVA hydrogels can be prepared with different compounds including sodium alginate, hyaluronan (HA), modified montmorillonite clay, AgNPs, cellulose nanocrystals (CNC), microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), cellulose fibers (CF), holocellulose (HC), gum acacia, bacterial cellulose (BC), MFC, and chitosan [15]–

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