title: Photocatalytic self-cleaning poly(L-lactide) materials based on a hybrid between nanosized zinc oxide and expanded graphite or fullerene.
abstract: New self-cleaning materials of polymer fibers decorated with a hybrid between nanosized zinc oxide and expanded graphite (EG) or fullerene (C60) were obtained. The new materials were prepared by applying electrospinning in conjunction with electrospraying. Poly(l-lactide) (PLA) was selected as a biocompatible and (bio)degradable polymer carrier. PLA solution was electrospun in combination with electrospraying of a suspension that contained the ZnO/EG or ZnO/C60 hybrid. Mats with different content of EG or C60 were obtained. The new materials were characterized by scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD). The photocatalytic activity of the materials was evaluated by using model dyes. The formation of a hybrid between ZnO and EG led to enhancement of the photocatalytic activity of the mats at ZnO/EG weight ratios of 90/10 and 85/15. Increase in the photocatalytic activity of the ZnO-containing mats was also achieved by the formation of a hybrid between ZnO and C60 at a fullerene content of 0.5 and 1.0 wt.% in respect to ZnO weight. The new materials exhibited antibacterial activity as evidenced by the performed studies against Staphylococcus aureus.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Bioactive Polymers, Institute of Polymers, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Acad. G. Bonchev St., bl. 103A, BG-1113 Sofia, Bulgaria.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Virovska
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Bioactive Polymers, Institute of Polymers, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Acad. G. Bonchev St., bl. 103A, BG-1113 Sofia, Bulgaria. Electronic address: panevad@polymer.bas.bg.
authors.forename: Dilyana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Paneva
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Bioactive Polymers, Institute of Polymers, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Acad. G. Bonchev St., bl. 103A, BG-1113 Sofia, Bulgaria.
authors.forename: Nevena
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Manolova
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Bioactive Polymers, Institute of Polymers, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Acad. G. Bonchev St., bl. 103A, BG-1113 Sofia, Bulgaria. Electronic address: rashkov@polymer.bas.bg.
authors.forename: Iliya
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Rashkov
authors.affiliation: Institute of Optical Materials and Technologies, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Acad. G. Bonchev St., bl. 109, BG-1113 Sofia, Bulgaria.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Karashanova
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D037741:Fullerenes / Q000737:chemistry*; D006108:Graphite / Q000737:chemistry; D011091:Polyesters / Q000737:chemistry*; D015034:Zinc Oxide / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D037741:Fullerenes; D011091:Polyesters; C033616:poly(lactide); D006108:Graphite; C069837:fullerene C60; D015034:Zinc Oxide
keywords: Antibacterial activity; Electrospinning; Electrospraying; Expanded graphite; Fullerene; Hybrid; Photocatalytic activity; Poly(l-lactide); Self-cleaning materials; ZnO