Preparation and characterization of biodegradable electrospinning PHBV/PBAT/TiO₂antibacterial nanofiber membranes

Abstract

To reduce the environmental pollution caused by medical protective materials, such as masks and protective clothing, biodegradable antibacterial materials have received more and more attention in recent years. In this study, poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) and poly(butylene-adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) were electrospun together and then treated with nano-TiO2 to develop and evaluate a biodegradable, antibacterial nanofiber membrane for medical protective fabric. The SEM images displayed that the nanofiber membrane with a mass fraction of 13 and a mass ratio of 50:50 PHBV/PBAT had the smallest diameter and the best morphology of all samples. In addition, the mechanical properties test and water contact angle test results demonstrated that the PBAT/PHBV composite nanofiber membrane had better mechanical properties and hydrophobicity without compromising its fundamental structure than pure PHBV. The addition of TiO2 nanoparticles decreased the fiber diameter of this nanofiber membrane. When the TiO2 concentration was 1.0 wt%, the average fiber diameter was 367 nm, which might approach the sub-micron level. Meanwhile, the presence of TiO2 reduced adhesion between fibers of the PBAT/PHBV membrane, resulting in a more uniform fiber distribution. Additionally, the elongation at the break of the PHBV/PBAT/TiO2 nanofiber membrane with 1.0 wt% TiO2 was raised from (135 ± 5)% to (203 ± 2)%. The PHBV/PBAT/TiO2 nanofiber membrane containing 1.0 wt% TiO2 inhibited Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, and its antibacterial rate was over 98%. In this research, we successfully prepared composite materials that were both biodegradable and antibacterial, which can be applied in the field of medical protection. It can promote the development of protective textile materials in the direction of functionalization and degradation.

Mechanical properties and structure of injection molded poly(hydroxybutyrate‐co‐hydroxyvalerate)/poly(butylene adipate‐co‐terephthalate) (PHBV/PBAT) blends

“…% and found blending stabilized the film bubbles, thus widening the processing window. Moreover, many works were conducted to fabricate the PHBV‐based composites with wood fiber composites, 25 coffee silverskin, 26 nanoclay, 27 graphene nanosheets and vermiculite, 28 switchgrass, 29 and TiO 2 30 …”

“…Moreover, many works were conducted to fabricate the PHBV-based composites with wood fiber composites, 25 coffee silverskin, 26 nanoclay, 27 graphene nanosheets and vermiculite, 28 switchgrass, 29 and TiO 2 . 30 A systematic insight into the structure and properties of PHBV melt compounded with PBAT is essential for developing bio-based and biodegradable PHBV/PBAT blends for potential biomedical applications. The work is to study the composition on thermal, rheological, and mechanical properties while maintaining biodegradability.…”

Use of Electrospinning for Sustainable Production of Nanofibers: A Comparative Assessment of Smart Textiles-Related Applications

“…Duygulu et al (2020) evaluated the antimicrobial efficacy of PLA with ceftriaxone disodium electrospun fibers against plenty of microorganisms, such as Bacillus cereus , Listeria monocytogenes , E. coli , and Salmonella Typhimuriume and noticed enhanced inhibition zones for the drug-blended PLA nanofibers [ 59 ]. Great antimicrobial capabilities against E. coli were also achieved in the cases of Silk Fibroin (SF)/gelatin (G) fibers with encapsulated GO and Ag NPs [ 60 ], as well as electrospun PHBV and PBAT blended mats with TiO 2 NPs [ 61 ].…”

Copolymers and Blends Based on 3-Hydroxybutyrate and 3-Hydroxyvalerate Units

“…Furthermore, their study highlighted the excellent antibacterial performance of 100% PLA/PHBV fabrics against many microorganisms. A study conducted by Xu et al [140] also emphasized the antibacterial properties of PHBV materials, suggesting their potential to produce hygienic textile products without the need for synthetic chemical treatments. Furthermore, the integration of reinforcing agent, such as lignocellulosic fibers, has been developed to improve mechanical limitations such as brittleness and the high cost of PHBV materials, thus expanding their applicability in the textile sector [141].…”