Silver/poly (lactic acid) nanocomposites: preparation, characterization, and antibacterial activity

Abstract

In this study, antibacterial characteristic of silver/poly (lactic acid) nanocomposite (Ag/PLA-NC) films was investigated, while silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) were synthesized into biodegradable PLA via chemical reduction method in diphase solvent. Silver nitrate and sodium borohydride were respectively used as a silver precursor and reducing agent in the PLA, which acted as a polymeric matrix and stabilizer. Meanwhile, the properties of Ag/PLA-NCs were studied as a function of the Ag-NP weight percentages (8, 16, and 32 wt% respectively), in relation to the use of PLA. The morphology of the Ag/PLA-NC films and the distribution of the Ag-NPs were also characterized. The silver ions released from the Ag/PLA-NC films and their antibacterial activities were scrutinized. The antibacterial activities of the Ag/PLA-NC films were examined against Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli and Vibrio parahaemolyticus) and Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus) by diffusion method using Muller–Hinton agar. The results indicated that Ag/PLA-NC films possessed a strong antibacterial activity with the increase in the percentage of Ag-NPs in the PLA. Thus, Ag/PLA-NC films can be used as an antibacterial scaffold for tissue engineering and medical application.

Keywords:

• antibacterial activity
• silver nanoparticles
• biodegradable
• poly (lactic acid)
• Muller–Hinton agar

Acknowledgments

Thanks are due to Professor Abdolhossein Rustaiyan and Mrs Parvaneh Shabanzadeh for helpful discussions and in giving the authors the idea. The authors are also grateful to the Institute of Bioscience (IBS/UPM) and Mrs A Jusoh in the TEM unit for technical assistance in this project.

Disclosure

The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose in this work.