Effects of poly(vinyl alcohol) blending with Ag/alginate solutions to form nanocomposite fibres for potential use as antibacterial wound dressings. Issue 3 (30th March 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Vidovic, Srdjan; Stojkovska, Jasmina; Stevanovic, Milan; Balanc, Bojana; Vukasinovic-Sekulic, Maja; Marinkovic, Aleksandar; Obradovic, Bojana
• Is Part Of: Royal Society open science. Volume 9:Issue 3(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-03-30
• Subjects: Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy -- antibacterial activity -- silver release -- swelling -- mechanical properties; Science -- Periodicals; 500
• DOI: 10.1098/rsos.211517
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2054-5703

Abstract

Abstract : In this work, nanocomposite fibres and microfibres based on alginate and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were produced and characterized for potential application as antibacterial wound dressings. PVA/Ag/Na-alginate colloid solution was used for the preparation of the fibres by a simple extrusion technique followed by freezing–thawing cycles. UV–Visible spectroscopy confirmed successful preservation of AgNPs in fibres while Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy has shown a balanced combined effect on the Ca-alginate spatial arrangement with the addition of both AgNPs and PVA. The presence of PVA in fibres induced an increase in the swelling degree as compared with that of Ag/Ca-alginate fibres (approx. 28 versus approx. 14). Still, the initially produced PVA/Ca-alginate fibres were mechanically weaker than Ca-alginate fibres, but after drying and rehydration exhibited better mechanical properties. Also, the obtained fibres released AgNPs and/or silver ions at the concentration of approximately 2.6 µg cm −3 leading to bacteriostatic effects against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli . These results are relevant for practical utilization of the fibres, which could be stored and applied in the dry form with preserved mechanical stability, sorption capacity and antibacterial activity.