The effect of silver nanoparticle concentration on the antibacterial properties of tri-layer PCL-Ag/PT/PVP wound dressing

Abstract

To comprehensively manage wound infection, tri-layer fibre membranes have been designed with two antibacterial agents, including silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and chitosan oligosaccharide (COS), and their antibacterial properties were evaluated using qualitative and quantitative tests. While the first polycaprolactone (PCL) silver layer and the second plasma-treated PCL layer were fabricated by electrospinning, the third COS layer was constructed via coating and heat-vacuum drying. The formation of the membranes and their fibrous and porous structures were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The antibacterial activities of the membranes against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus were examined by disk diffusion and percentage reduction assays, which were performed simultaneously as per the certificates from the Ministry of Health Institute of Public Health in Ho Chi Minh city. The tri-layer membranes, named PCLAg50/PT (plasma treatment)/COS and PCLAg500/PT/COS, achieved desirable antibacterial results with extensive inhibition zones and bacterial reduction rates ranging from 99-100%. In addition, while the PCLAg500 membrane exhibited broad inhibition zones and reduction rates ranging from 94.6-97%, the PCLAg50 membrane achieved reduction rates ranging from 67.5-82.1% despite the absence of inhibition zones. As a result, the fabricated tri-layer membranes could reduce local and opportunistic infections. Depending on infectious risks, the concentration of silver utilsed as an infection-prevention agent must be adjusted from 50 to 500 ppm to ensure safety.