Sesbania Gum-Supported Hydrophilic Electrospun Fibers Containing Nanosilver with Superior Antibacterial Activity

Abstract

In this contribution, we report for the first time on a new strategy for developing sesbania gum-supported hydrophilic fibers containing nanosilver using electrospinning (SG-Ag/PAN electrospun fibers), which gives the fibers superior antibacterial activity. Employing a series of advanced technologies—scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, UV–visible absorption spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and contact angle testing—we characterized the as-synthesized SG-Ag/PAN electrospun fibers in terms of morphology, size, surface state, chemical composition, and hydrophilicity. By adjusting the synthesis conditions, in particular the feed ratio of sesbania gum (SG) and polyacrylonitrile (PAN) to Ag nanoparticles (NPs), we regulated the morphology and size of the as-electrospun fibers. The fibers’ antibacterial properties were examined using the colony-counting method with two model bacteria: Escherichia coli (a Gram-negative bacterium) and Staphylococcus aureus (a Gram-positive bacterium). Interestingly, compared to Ag/PAN and SG-PAN electrospun fibers, the final SG-Ag/PAN showed enhanced antibacterial activity towards both of the model bacteria due to the combination of antibacterial Ag NPs and hydrophilic SG, which enabled the fibers to have sufficient contact with the bacteria. We believe this strategy has great potential for applications in antibacterial-related fields.

An N-Halamine/Graphene Oxide-Functionalized Electrospun Polymer Membrane That Inactivates Bacteria on Contact and by Releasing Active Chlorine

“…Figure 4 and Table 2 present To further confirm the fabrication of the PAN/GO/DCDMH fibrous membrane, we performed FTIR spectroscopic analysis to record the characteristic groups. Figure 5 [40,41], indicating that the as-electrospun product was supported by PAN polymeric chains. The appearance of the O-H, C-O-C, and C=O stretching vibrations confirmed the existence of GO [42,43].…”

“…The membrane clearly shows four characteristic vibrations of the C–H, C≡N, O–H, C–O–C, C=O, and C–N bands at around 2981, 2936, 2246, 3397, 1070–1170, 1734, and 1223 cm –1 , respectively. The C–H and C≡N stretching vibrations are attributed to the PAN matrix [ 40 , 41 ], indicating that the as-electrospun product was supported by PAN polymeric chains. The appearance of the O–H, C–O–C, and C=O stretching vibrations confirmed the existence of GO [ 42 , 43 ].…”

“…The antibacterial activity of the as-electrospun fibers was examined using the colony-counting method, with E. coli as a typical pathogen [ 40 ]. Figure 8 presents the results of the antibacterial kinetic test.…”

Ag/H-ZIF-8 Nanocomposite as an Effective Antibacterial Agent Against Pathogenic Bacteria

“…Overall, this result indicates that the Ag/H-ZIF-8 nanocomposite has low cytotoxicity and good biocompatibility. All results above demonstrated the great potential of Ag/H-ZIF-8 composite in practical antibacterial applications, and that its delivery can be implemented by using fibrous materials which can be made by many methods [33,34,35,36].…”

Electrospun Sesbania Gum-Based Polymeric N-Halamines for Antibacterial Applications

“…Pal et al grafted a cationic polymer onto SG via microwave-assisted graft copolymerization to achieve a material with antibacterial properties [42]. Our group introduced silver nanoparticles into a SG system using electrospinning to render SG with superior antibacterial activity [43]. As far as we know, however, no one has reported on experimental and theoretical research into the synthesis of SG-based antibacterial N -halamines.…”