One-Step Synthesis and Characterization of Polyaniline Nanofiber/Silver Nanoparticle Composite Networks as Antibacterial Agents

Abstract

Through a facile and effective seeding polymerization reaction via a one-step redox/complexation process, which took place in aqueous medium at ambient temperature, silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) embedded polyaniline nanofiber (PANI NF) networks were synthesized as antibacterial agents. During the reaction, not only NF morphology formation of the resulting conducting polymers (CPs) but also amplification of the aqueous silver nitrate (AgNO3) solutions' oxidative potentials were managed by vanadium pentoxide (V2O5) sol-gel nanofibers, which acted as well-known nanofibrous seeding agents and the auxiliary oxidative agent at the same time. The PANI/Ag nanocomposites were proven to exhibit excellent antibacterial property against both Gram-negative Escherichia coli and Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus. Antibacterial property performance and average life span of the nanocomposite network were optimized through the homogeneous distribution/embedment of Ag NPs within one-dimensional (1-D) PANI NF matrix. The antibacterial efficacy tests and nanocomposite material characterization results further indicated that the sole components of PANI/Ag have a synergistic effect to each other in terms of antibacterial property. Thus, this well-known catalytic seeding approach via a one-step oxidative polymerization reaction can be considered as a general methodology and a substantial fabrication tool to synthesize Ag NP decorated nanofibrillar PANI networks as advanced antibacterial agents.

Particle‐coated electrospun scaffold: A semi‐conductive drug eluted scaffold with layered fiber/particle arrangement

“…The presence of PANI has been reported to confer anti‐microbial properties to the scaffold . However, this effect was not observed here.…”

Developments in conducting polymer fibres: from established spinning methods toward advanced applications

“…[177][178][179][180][181][182][183] Recently, Polyaniline Nanofibre/ Silver Nanoparticle Composite Networks were prepared via well-known seeding polymerisation method with reported electrical conductivities in the range of 210 −3 to 0.196 Scm -1 applied as an antibacterial agent. 184 Melt spinning is another method that has been used for making composite PAni fibres. However, the use of this method has been restricted because of several issues mentioned earlier, such as relatively low decomposition temperatures, poor control over the exact temperature of the polymer melt during spinning, thermomechanical history of the melt and final fibre structure.…”

Recent progress on nanostructured conducting polymers and composites: synthesis, application and future aspects

“…This approach can Non-enzymatic glucose sensors [109] simultaneously control the morphologies of both conducting polymers and noble metal, without the assistance of other templates or capping agents [108]. For CP/metal network, Zhang et al [109,110] first demonstrated a facile and one-step approach to develop PPy/noble metal nanocomposites starting from the monomer and noble metal salts. This method can be used to synthesize other CPs network deposited with noble metal nanoparticles which can be converted to nanocarbon/noble metal nanocomposites by rapid microwave heating.…”