Electrospun Silver Nanoparticles-Embedded Feather Keratin/Poly(vinyl alcohol)/Poly(ethylene oxide) Antibacterial Composite Nanofibers

Abstract

Feathers, which contain >90% keratin, are valuable natural protein resources. The aim of this study is to prepare antimicrobial feather keratin (FK)-based nanofibers by incorporating silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). A series of AgNPs-embedded feather keratin/poly(vinyl alcohol)/poly(ethylene oxide) (FK/PVA/PEO) composite nanofibers with varying amounts of AgNPs content were fabricated by electrospinning. Their morphology, crystallinity, thermal stability, tensile property, and antibacterial activity were systematically investigated. The average diameters of composite nanofibers gradually decreased with increases in the amount of AgNPs. The crystallinity, thermal stability, and antibacterial activity of FK/PVA/PEO nanofibers were enhanced by embedding AgNPs. When embedded with 1.2% AgNPs, both the tensile strength and elongation-at-break reached the highest level. This work has the potential to expand the application of FK-based nanofibers in the biomaterial field.

Electrospinning Proteins for Wound Healing Purposes: Opportunities and Challenges

“…Keratin proteins are found in epithelial tissues and can be easily extracted from hair, wool and feathers [ 110 ]. They have an ability to self-assemble into fibrous structures [ 163 ] and as compared to other epithelial components such as collagen and elastin, keratin is more cytocompatible and non-immunogenic [ 164 , 165 ].…”

“…Electrospinning keratin is challenging due to its high molecular weight and low viscoelasticity [ 33 ]. Therefore, keratin has been electrospun into fibers after addition of other polymers such as PVA [ 110 ], PEO [ 110 , 168 ] and chitosan (CS) [ 111 ]. Better cytocompatibility is achieved at higher keratin concentrations in the fibers [ 169 ]; however, higher keratin concentrations make it more challenging to electrospin and often result in beaded morphology [ 168 , 169 ].…”

“…Better cytocompatibility is achieved at higher keratin concentrations in the fibers [ 169 ]; however, higher keratin concentrations make it more challenging to electrospin and often result in beaded morphology [ 168 , 169 ]. As keratin does not possess an intrinsic antimicrobial property, a few studies have incorporated silver nanoparticles [ 110 ], antibiotics such as mupirocin [ 111 ] and the bactericidal agent irgasan [ 168 ] into keratin-based fibers ( Table 2 ).…”

Core–Shell Eudragit S100 Nanofibers Prepared via Triaxial Electrospinning to Provide a Colon-Targeted Extended Drug Release

“…Electrospinning, as a peer technology of electrospraying, can create polymeric nanofibers with variable structural features in a single-step process [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ], and should thus hold great promises for developing new types of polymer-based nanofibers loaded with different kinds of active ingredients [ 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 ], including those for treating coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) [ 12 , 13 , 14 ]. In 1996, electrospinning (previously electrostatic spinning) and nanofibers were revived by Reneker’s group [ 15 ].…”

Biopolymer-Waste Fiber Reinforcement for Earthen Materials: Capillary, Mechanical, Impact, and Abrasion Performance

“…The latter is a relevant factor, since the development of keratin-based materials might have a large impact on the area of green construction materials due to characteristics such as biodegradability, biocompatibility, the mechanical performance, and the natural abundance of these keratin-based materials [ 15 ]. As CFs are a massive waste/by-product generated by the poultry industry worldwide [ 4 ] and their composition is largely based on keratin (approximately 90%), these CFs have attracted significant attention as fiber reinforcements for composite materials (e.g., [ 4 , 6 , 10 , 11 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 ]). These keratin-based feathers are small proteins with a primary structure based on amino acids and a molecular weight that ranges between 10 and 22 kDa [ 2 , 4 ].…”