Figures & data
Figure 1 Transmission electron micrographs of CHX-HMP-5 (A) and CHX-HMP-0.5 (B) nanoparticles.
Note: Scale bar 200 nm.
Abbreviations: CHX, chlorhexidine; HMP, hexametaphosphate.
Figure 2 Dynamic light scattering data showing size distributions of CHX-HMP-5 (A) and CHX-HMP-0.5 (B) NPs, where CHX-HMP-X_1,2,3 indicate measurements in triplicate for concentration X.
Abbreviations: CHX, chlorhexidine; HMP, hexametaphosphate; NPs, nanoparticles.
Figure 3 Zeta potential data showing charge distribution of CHX-HMP-5 (A) and CHX-HMP-0.5 (B) NPs where CHX-HMP-X_1,2,3 indicate measurements in triplicate for concentration X.
Abbreviations: CHX, chlorhexidine; HMP, hexametaphosphate; NPs, nanoparticles.
Figure 4 Atomic force microscopy images and line plots of a single CHX-HMP NP (A, C) and an aggregate of NPs (B, D). In (D), the black line corresponds to profile 1 in (B), the red line to profile 2, and the green line to profile 3, each showing a feature thought to be a nanoparticle or small aggregate. The textured background in (B) is thought to be the polymer surface.
Abbreviations: CHX, chlorhexidine; HMP, hexametaphosphate; NP, nanoparticle.
Figure 5 Scanning electron micrographs showing CHX-HMP nanoparticles on EVA polymer. (A, B) Control (no nanoparticles); (C, D) CHX-HMP-0.5 nanoparticles; (E, F) CHX-HMP-5 nanoparticles. The untreated EVA had a textured appearance (A, B). The CHX-HMP-0.5 surface was not clearly different from the control (C, D); there was no evidence of aggregations of nanoparticles as with the other material specimens. The CHX-HMP-5 surface displayed deposits of the porous aggregate coating much of the polymer surface (E, F).
Abbreviations: CHX, chlorhexidine; HMP, hexametaphosphate; EVA, ethylene vinyl acetate.
Figure 6 Chlorhexidine release from nanoparticle-functionalized EVA polymer expressed in μmoles CHX released per unit surface area of specimen as a function of time. The EVA functionalized with CHX-HMP-5 nanoparticles showed a sustained release of soluble CHX which was still ongoing at the end of the experimental period. There was a lower release from the CHX-HMP-0.5 specimens but this was almost all within the first day or two; there was little or no release after this time. The control specimens treated with 25 μM aqueous CHX solution did not show a release of CHX.
Abbreviations: CHX, chlorhexidine; HMP, hexametaphosphate; EVA, ethylene vinyl acetate.
