Nanostructured Carbon Fiber Modified by Silver Nanoparticles for the Medical Application

Abstract

In this work, the feasibility of synthesizing new composite system for the medical application using an activated carbon fiber nanostructured materials with silver nanoparticles through immobilization by adsorption from solutions (ACFNM/AgNP) has been studied. The stability of the obtained composite system in physiological solutions as a modern sorption application form has been examined. Optimal modes of carbonized fabric activation are proposed for synthesis of nanostructured carbon fiber with high sorption capacity. The size distribution of silver nanoparticles after the ultrasonic treatment of the original silver solution in glycerol was proved to significantly decrease in the size of the agglomerates formed in the solution. It has been shown that after ultrasonic treatment, the silver nanoparticles were actively adsorbed by the porous structure of the carbon matrix. Treatment of carbon fiber with silver nanoparticles showed their uniform adsorption on the surface of the carbon matrix to form silver agglomerates with sizes of ~90–120 nm and 250– 300 nm. When studying the physicochemical stability of the obtained composite systems in biological solutions it was revealed that the intensity of silver release from the surface of the ACFNM/AgNP composite depends on the volumetric capacity of the carbon matrix, the initial concentration of silver in the solution, and the chemical composition of biological media. At that, the amount of silver in the water filtrate was established to be greater than in physiological solutions after the interaction. It was shown that the initial silver concentration of 25 mg/L in a suspension of glycerol is most optimal for creating of stable ACFNM/AgNP composite systems. Besides, the slower release of silver from the surface of carbon matrices into physiological solutions of different salt composition ensures a prolonged effect of silver in modern sorption application forms for medical purposes. The ACFNM/AgNP composite system with a capacity of carbon matrix of 1.0 cm3/g and an initial concentration of silver in a solution of 25 mg/L was recommended for the future development of modern application materials.