Preparation of Polymer Nanocomposites with Enhanced Antimicrobial Properties

2012 ◽  
Vol 1479 ◽  
pp. 57-62 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beatriz L. España-Sánchez ◽  
Carlos A. Ávila-Orta ◽  
Maria G. Neira-Velázquez ◽  
Silvia G. Solís-Rosales ◽  
Pablo González -Morones

ABSTRACTPlasma surface activation and antibacterial properties of nanocomposites of polypropylene/silver nanoparticles (PP/nAg) and nylon-6/silver nanoparticles (Ny6/nAg) were investigated. The nanocomposites were prepared by melt blending assisted by ultrasound, while surface activation was achieved by means of argon plasma. To evaluate the antimicrobial properties of the nanocomposites, pathogen microorganisms such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Aspergillus niger were tested. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analyses showed a uniform dispersion of nanoparticles within the polymer matrix, though the presence of some agglomerates was also appreciated. On the other hand, surface topography by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) suggested that ions from the argon plasma generated ion collisions with the surface of the nanocomposites removing or etching polymer from surface and improving silver nanoparticles exposure, increasing their antimicrobial properties as corroborated by antimicrobial analyses. Nanocomposites exposed to argon plasma presented higher antimicrobial properties than the ones not exposed. These results indicated that plasma treatment increased the contact area of the nanoparticles with the microorganisms and enhanced the antimicrobial properties of nanocomposites. The results also showed that PP/nAg nanocomposites presented higher bacterial inhibition than Ny6/nAg nanocomposites, indicating that the chemical structure of the polymer also plays a big role in the final performance of the composite.

Nanomaterials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 182
Author(s):  
Petr Slepička ◽  
Silvie Rimpelová ◽  
Nikola Slepičková Kasálková ◽  
Dominik Fajstavr ◽  
Petr Sajdl ◽  
...  

This article is focused on the evaluation of surface properties of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) nanotextile and a tetrafluoroethylene-perfluoro(alkoxy vinyl ether) (PFA) film and their surface activation with argon plasma treatment followed with silver nanoclusters deposition. Samples were subjected to plasma modification for a different time exposure, silver deposition for different time periods, or their combination. As an alternative approach, the foils were coated with poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) and silver. The following methods were used to study the surface properties of the polymers: goniometry, atomic force microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron microscopy. By combining the aforementioned methods for material surface modification, substrates with antibacterial properties eliminating the growth of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria were prepared. Studies of antimicrobial activity showed that PTFE plasma-modified samples coated with PLLA and deposited with a thin layer of Ag had a strong antimicrobial effect, which was also observed for the PFA material against the bacterial strain of S. aureus. Significant antibacterial effect against S. aureus, Proteus sp. and E. coli has been demonstrated on PTFE nanotextile plasma-treated for 240 s, coated with PLLA, and subsequently sputtered with thin Ag layer.


Author(s):  
Lucinda J. Bessa ◽  
Miguel Peixoto de Almeida ◽  
Peter Eaton ◽  
Eulália Pereira ◽  
Paula Gameiro

Bacterial proliferation on certain surfaces is of concern as it tends to lead to infectious health problems. Nanotechnology is offering new options for engineering antimicrobial surfaces. Herein, the antibiofilm and biocidal properties of star-shaped silver nanoparticles (AgNSs) in suspension and as coating surfaces were studied. AgNSs and spherical silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) (used for comparison purposes) were synthesized using reported methods. Glass disks (9 mm diameter) were covered with AgNSs using deposition by centrifugation. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of AgNSs and AgNPs were determined against several reference strains and multidrug-resistant isolates and their antibiofilm activity was assessed against preformed biofilms of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus by both Live/Dead staining and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The antimicrobial properties of AgNSs-coated surfaces were evaluated by the “touch test” method on agar, and also Live/Dead staining and AFM. The MIC values of the AgNSs were 2–4 times lower than those of the AgNPs. Biofilms treated with AgNSs at a concentration equal to the MIC were not significantly affected, although they exhibited more dead cells than the non-treated biofilms. The biocidal activity of AgNSs-coated surfaces was attested, since no growth on agar nor viable cells were observed after contact of the inoculated bacteria with the coated surface for 6 and 24 h. Thus, AgNSs show greater potential as a surface coating with biocidal effects than used as suspension for antimicrobial purposes.


Author(s):  
Vidyasagar G M ◽  
Shankaravva B ◽  
R Begum ◽  
Imrose ◽  
Sagar R ◽  
...  

Microorganisms like fungi, actinomycetes and bacteria are considered nanofactories and are helpful in the production of nanoparticles useful in the welfare of human beings. In the present study, we investigated the production of silver nanoparticles from Streptomyces species JF714876. Extracellular synthesis of silver nanoparticles by Streptomyces species was carried out using two different media. Silver nanoparticles were examined using UV-visible, IR and atomic force microscopy. The size of silver nanoparticles was in the range of 80-100 nm. Antimicrobial activity of silver nanoparticle against bacteria such as E. coli, S. aureus, and dermatophytes like T. rubrum and T. tonsurans was determined. Thus, this study suggests that the Streptomyces sp. JF741876 can produce silver ions that can be used as an antimicrobial substance.


2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ram Prasad ◽  
Vyshnava Satyanarayana Swamy

The unique property of the silver nanoparticles having the antimicrobial activity drags the major attention towards the present nanotechnology. The environmentally nontoxic, ecofriendly, and cost-effective method that has been developed for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles using plant extracts creates the major research interest in the field of nanobiotechnology. The synthesized silver nanoparticles have been characterized by the UV-visible spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Further, the antibacterial activity of silver nanoparticles was evaluated by well diffusion method, and it was found that the biogenic silver nanoparticles have antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 29213), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853), Azotobacter chroococcum WR 9, and Bacillus licheniformis (MTCC 9555).


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (12) ◽  
pp. 6472
Author(s):  
Beata Kaczmarek-Szczepańska ◽  
Marcin Wekwejt ◽  
Olha Mazur ◽  
Lidia Zasada ◽  
Anna Pałubicka ◽  
...  

This paper concerns the physicochemical properties of chitosan/phenolic acid thin films irradiated by ultraviolet radiation with wavelengths between 200 and 290 nm (UVC) light. We investigated the preparation and characterization of thin films based on chitosan (CTS) with tannic (TA), caffeic (CA) and ferulic acid (FA) addition as potential food-packaging materials. Such materials were then exposed to the UVC light (254 nm) for 1 and 2 h to perform the sterilization process. Different properties of thin films before and after irradiation were determined by various methods such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), mechanical properties and by the surface free energy determination. Moreover, the antimicrobial activity of the films and their potential to reduce the risk of contamination was assessed. The results showed that the phenolic acid improving properties of chitosan-based films, short UVC radiation may be used as sterilization method for those films, and also that the addition of ferulic acid obtains effective antimicrobial activity, which have great benefit for food packing applications.


2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caroline S. Danna ◽  
Dalita G. S. M. Cavalcante ◽  
Andressa S. Gomes ◽  
Leandra E. Kerche-Silva ◽  
Eidi Yoshihara ◽  
...  

Natural rubber (NR) films can reduce silver metal ions forming embedded metal nanoparticles, a process that could be described as green synthesis. The NR films acting as a reactor generate and incorporate silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). Organic acids and amino acids play a crucial role in the formation of AgNPs. The plasmon extinction obtained in the UV-visible spectrum shows the presence of nanoparticles in the film after dipping the NR film into a solution of silver nitrate at 80°C. Electron microscopic analysis confirms the presence of AgNPs in the NR film and characterization by atomic force microscopy shows a change in the roughness of the NR film with AgNPs. In addition, our preliminary results fromin vitrotoxicity studies (MTT and comet assays) of the NR films and NR films with silver nanoparticles (NR/Ag) show that they are not toxic to cell lineage CHO-K1 (cells from the ovary of a Chinese hamster), an important result for potential medical applications.


Nanomaterials ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 1177 ◽  
Author(s):  
Federica Rinaldi ◽  
Elena del Favero ◽  
Johannes Moeller ◽  
Patrizia Nadia Hanieh ◽  
Daniele Passeri ◽  
...  

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are widely used as antibacterial agents and anticancer drugs, but often their low stability limits their mass production and broad applications. The use of niosomes as a carrier to protect and envelop AgNPs gives a new perspective to solve these problems. In this study, AgNPs were functionalized with sodium 3-mercapto-1-propanesulfonate (3MPS) to induce hydrophilic behavior, improving loading in Tween 20 and Span 20 niosomes (NioTw20 and NioSp20, respectively). Entrapment efficiency was evaluated by UV analyses and is around 1–4%. Dimensions were investigated by means of dynamic light scattering (DLS) (<2RH> = 140 ± 4 nm and <2RH> = 251 ± 1 nm respectively for NioTw20 + AgNPs and NioSp20 + AgNPs) and were compared with those by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and small angle X ray scattering (SAXS) analyses. Stability was assessed in water up to 90 days, and both in bovine serum and human serum for up to 8 h. In order to characterize the local structure of niosomes, SAXS measurements have been performed on Tween 20 and Span 20 empty niosomes and loaded with AgNPs. The release profiles of hydrophilic probe calcein and lipophilic probe Nile Red were performed in HEPES buffer and in human serum. All these features contribute to conclude that the two systems, NioTw20 + AgNPs and NioSp20 + AgNPs, are suitable and promising in the field of biological applications.


2013 ◽  
Vol 872 ◽  
pp. 74-78 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.P. Zhuravkov ◽  
Evgeny Plotnikov ◽  
Dmitry Martemiyanov ◽  
Nikolay A. Yavorovsky ◽  
Ulrich Hasse ◽  
...  

The morphological and structural characteristics of nanoscale silver particles obtained by the method of electric spark dispersion of metal granules in the liquid aprotic medium were obtained using atomic force microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and dynamic light scattering spectroscopy. The specific surface, morphology, structure and the distribution by size of the particles are presented.


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