Carboxymethylchitosan nanofibers containing silver nanoparticles: Preparation, Characterization and Antibacterial activity

Herein we prepare antibacterial composite from carboxymethylchitosan (CMCS) nanofibers and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) by using poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) as reducing, capping and fiber aiding material and investigated to be used in biomedical applications. The AgNPs has spherical shapes and its diameter ranged from 15 to 25 nm and distributed within the prepared nanofibers. The electrospinning parameters from the effect of the CMCS and PVA mass ratio, extrusion rate and field were studied. The optimum condition for electrospinning were 7% for CMCS and 8% from PVA. UV-vis, TEM and XRD used to characterize AgNPs whereas FTIR and SEM used to characterize nanofibers. Results showed that ultra-fine fibers were generated after addition of PVA to CMCS in different mass ratios to from 8 wt. % concentration solutions. Electrospun PVA (AgNPs)/CMCS nanofibers showed good antibacterial effects towards Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Antibacterial activities of electrospun nanofibers increased by increasing both CMCS and AgNPs content in the electrospun nanofibers.