Nanofiber composite for anti-bacterial application by electrospinning technique

Abstract

The current work aims to study the effect of alumina nanofibers with diameter (3–4 ​nm) added in a weight percentage of 1.3% and 6% to polyacrylamide (C3H5NO)n to improve mechanical properties and thermal stability. Tensile strength, Young's modulus, elongation and toughness were all calculated via tensile test. Thermal properties, including glass transition temperature, thermal energy, and crystallinity of nanocomposites were tested by differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to characterize chemical bonds in polyacrylamide and alumina nanofibers. The nanocomposite with the added weight percentage of 6% was selected from the above-mentioned percentages upon carrying out the tensile test. It was chosen to be mixed with 1% weight percentage of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles of diameter 50 ​nm to gain the antibacterial effect, together with good mechanical properties. In addition to the above-mentioned tests, the three-dimensional morphology of the specimens was tested by atomic force microscope technique (AFM), as well as testing against positive and negative gram bacteria to evaluate the efficiency of the prepared nanocomposite as an antibacterial material. Morphological features of samples were tested via Scanning electron microscope (SEM). According to the results, the material exhibited good mechanical and antibacterial properties, making it suitable for use in the production of water filters and antibacterial surfaces used in medical facilities, laboratories and wound dressings.