Preparing, Characterization and Anti-Biofilm Activity of Polymer Fibers Doped by Green Synthesized AgNPs.

Oksana Velgosova,Erika Mudra,Marek Vojtko

doi:10.3390/polym13040605

Abstract

The aim of the work was to prepare polymer matrix composite (PMC) microfibers doped by green synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). The incorporation of AgNP into the polymer matrix can provide toxic properties to the polymer. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) was used as a matrix. AgNPs were synthesized by the green method, where the leaf extract of Rosmarinus officinalis (R. officinalis) was used as a reduction and capping agent. PVA-AgNPs composites were prepared in two ways: the ex situ method (pre-prepared globular AgNPs with a mean diameter of 20 nm were added into polymer matrix) and the in situ method (AgNPs were synthesized in the process of polymer composite preparation; in situ synthesized nanoparticles were a mix of different shapes with a mean diameter of ~100 nm). FTIR (Infrared spectroscopy with Fourier Transformation), UV–vis (Ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy), TEM (Transmission Electron Microscope), EDX (Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy), and SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope) techniques were used for the analysis of nanoparticles and prepared PMCs. Thin layers and microfibers of in situ and ex situ PMCs were prepared. The presence of AgNPs clusters was evident in both PMC thin layers. After electrospinning, the chains of nanoparticles were observed inside the fibers. The distribution of nanoparticles was improved by increasing the AgNPs volume fraction (from 5 vol.% to 20 vol.%). Toxic and antibiofilm activity of AgNPs colloid, pure PVA, and PVA-AgNPs composites against the one-cell green algae Parachlorella kessleri (P. kessleri) was analyzed. AgNPs colloid, as well as PVA-AgNPs composites, showed good toxic and antibiofilm activity, and pure PVA shows no toxic/antibiofilm activity.

Highlights

IntroductionPublisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations
Preparing of 8 wt.% Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) solution—PVA powder and deionized water were mixed in a beaker, in a water bath at 70–80 ◦ C for 2 h, Synthesis of AgNPs—chemicals for experiment included the stock silver solution and leaves extract of R. officinalis: (i) the stock silver solution was prepared by dissolving of AgNO3 in deionized water, the leaf extract was prepared using 10 g of fresh leaves of R. officinalis
After 14 days, the samples were evaluated, and it was found that the pure PVA fibers did not show any toxic or antibiofilm effects

Summary

Introduction

Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. Progress in science and technology constantly requires new materials that are characterized by special properties, or materials whose properties are enhanced by the addition of other substances that cause a significant change in the properties of the original material. Protection of the environment is an important requirement in the process of new materials production. Great attention is currently paid to the production of materials by ecological, green methods. Nanomaterials and composite nanomaterials are currently at the forefront of interest. It is well known that nanomaterials have unique properties compared to bulk material. Nanosilver occupies an exceptional place among nanomaterials mainly due to its unusual optical, electrical, catalytic, and antibacterial properties [1,2]

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