The
COVID-19 pandemic has clearly shown the importance of developments
in fabrication of advanced protective equipment. This study investigates
the potential of using multifunctional electrospun poly(methyl methacrylate)
(PMMA) nanofibers decorated with ZnO nanorods and Ag nanoparticles
(PMMA/ZnO–Ag NFs) in protective mats. Herein, the PMMA/ZnO–Ag
NFs with an average diameter of 450 nm were simply prepared on a nonwoven
fabric by directly electrospinning from solutions containing PMMA,
ZnO nanorods, and Ag nanoparticles. The novel material showed high
performance with four functionalities (i) antibacterial agent for
killing of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, (ii) antiviral
agent for inhibition of corona and influenza viruses, (iii) photocatalyst
for degradation of organic pollutants, enabling a self-cleaning protective
mat, and (iv) reusable surface-enhanced Raman scattering substrate
for quantitative analysis of trace pollutants on the nanofiber. This
multi-functional material has high potential for use in protective
clothing applications by providing passive and active protection pathways
together with sensing capabilities.
The bone therapeutic drug zoledronate (ZOL) was loaded at and released by polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) particle films composed of either pure poly(ethyleneimine) (PEI) or maltose-modified poly(ethyleneimine) (PEI-M) and oppositely charged cellulose sulfate attached to model germanium (Ge) substrates by solution casting. Dispersions of colloidally stable polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) particles in the size range 11–141 nm were obtained by mixing PEI or PEI-M, CS and ZOL in defined stoichiometric ratios. TRANS-FTIR spectroscopy was used to determine the stability of the PEC films against detachment, in-situ-ATR-FTIR spectroscopy for the ZOL loss in the PEC film and UV–VIS spectroscopy for the ZOL enrichment of the release medium. Films of casted ZOL/CS/PEI-M or ZOL/CS/PEI particles were stable in contact to water, while films of the pure drug (ZOL) and of the binary systems ZOL/PEI-M or ZOL/PEI were not stable against detachment. Retarded releases of ZOL from various PEC films compared to the pure drug film were observed. The molecular weight of PEI showed a considerable effect on the initial burst (IB) of ZOL. No significant effect of the maltose modification of PEI-25 K on IB could be found. Generally, after one day the ZOL release process was finished for all measured ZOL/PEC samples and residual amounts of 0-30% were obtained. Surface adhesive drug loaded PEC particles are promising drug delivery systems to supply and release a defined amount of bone therapeutics and to functionalize bone substitution materials.
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