title: In-situ photo-assisted deposition of silver particles on hydrogel fibers for antibacterial applications.
abstract: Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have attracted intensive research interest and have been recently incorporated in polymers, medical devices, hydrogels and burn dressings to control the proliferation of microorganisms. In this study a novel silver antibacterial coating was deposited for the first time on hydrogel fibers through an in-situ photo-chemical reaction. Hydrogel blends obtained by mixing different percentages of silver-treated and untreated fibers were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). Four different fluids, such as phosphate buffered saline (PBS), simulated body fluid (SBF), chemical simulated wound fluid (cSWF), and deionized water (DI water), were used for evaluating the swelling properties. The results obtained confirmed that the presence of silver did not affect the properties of the hydrogel. Moreover, the results obtained through inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) demonstrated very low silver release values, thus indicating the perfect adhesion of the silver coating to the substrate. Good antibacterial capabilities were demonstrated by any hydrogel blend on Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) through agar diffusion tests and optical density readings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Engineering for Innovation, University of Salento, Via per Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy; CBN, Center for Biomolecular Nanotechnologies, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Barsanti, 73010 Arnesano, Lecce, Italy.
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Raho
authors.affiliation: Department of Engineering for Innovation, University of Salento, Via per Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy.
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Paladini
authors.affiliation: Department of Engineering for Innovation, University of Salento, Via per Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy.
authors.forename: Fiorella Anna
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Lombardi
authors.affiliation: Megatex S.p.A., Via Cima D'Aosta, 73040 Melissano, Lecce, Italy.
authors.forename: Sandro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Boccarella
authors.affiliation: Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo Francesco Vito 1, 00198 Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: Benedetta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zunino
authors.affiliation: Department of Engineering for Innovation, University of Salento, Via per Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy; Silvertech Ltd., Via per Monteroni, 73100 Lecce, Italy. Electronic address: mauro.pollini@unisalento.it.
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pollini
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests / Q000379:methods; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning / Q000379:methods; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D012834:Silver / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D018030:Silver Compounds / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D013052:Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission / Q000379:methods; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared / Q000379:methods; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D011108:Polymers; D018030:Silver Compounds; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate; D012834:Silver
keywords: Antibacterial; Biomedical; Fiber; Hydrogel; Nanoparticle; Silver