Polyethylene/silver-nanofiber composites: A material for antibacterial films.
Silver nanofibers (Ag-Nfbs)~80nm in diameter were synthesized by hydrothermal treatment. The nanofibers (3 and 5wt%) were added in the initial feed together with the catalytic system. Polymerizations in an ethylene atmosphere were performed, yielding PE nanocomposites in situ with 3 and 5wt% content of Ag-Nfbs. The antibacterial effect of the silver-nanofiber composites was evaluated after incubation of Escherichia coli ATCC 25923 for 8h on their surface. Bacterial viability tests showed that the silver-nanofiber composites inhibited the growth of Escherichia coli ATCC 25923 by 88 and 56%. This behavior is attributed to increased silver ions release from the nanocomposite. TEM analysis showed that the antibacterial effect is associated with membrane disruption but not with changes in shape.
Grupo Polímeros, Facultad de Química y Biología, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, USACH, Casilla 40, Correo 33, Santiago, Chile. Electronic address: paula.zapata@usach.cl.
Paula A
PA
Zapata
Universidad del País Vasco/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea, P° Manuel Lardizabal, 3, 20018 Donostia-San Sebastián, Gipuzkoa, Spain.
Maialen
M
Larrea
Departamento de Química de los Materiales, Facultad de Química y Biloogía, Soft Matter Research and Technology Center (SMAT-C), University of Santiago, Av. L. B. O'Higgins 3363, Casilla 40, Correo 33, Santiago, Chile.
Laura
L
Tamayo
Grupo Polímeros, Facultad de Química y Biología, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, USACH, Casilla 40, Correo 33, Santiago, Chile.
Franco M
FM
Rabagliati
Departamento de Química de los Materiales, Facultad de Química y Biloogía, Soft Matter Research and Technology Center (SMAT-C), University of Santiago, Av. L. B. O'Higgins 3363, Casilla 40, Correo 33, Santiago, Chile.
M Ignacio
MI
Azócar
Departamento de Química de los Materiales, Facultad de Química y Biloogía, Soft Matter Research and Technology Center (SMAT-C), University of Santiago, Av. L. B. O'Higgins 3363, Casilla 40, Correo 33, Santiago, Chile.
Maritza
M
Páez
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects; D002384:Catalysis; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007477:Ions; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D050296:Microbial Viability / Q000187:drug effects; D057139:Nanofibers / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D020959:Polyethylene / Q000494:pharmacology*; D058105:Polymerization; D012834:Silver / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013052:Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission; D013696:Temperature
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D007477:Ions; D012834:Silver; D020959:Polyethylene
Antibacterial properties; Biomaterials; In situ polymerization; Nanocomposites; Polyethylene; Silver nanofibers