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Article
Biocidal Activity of Plasma Modified Electrospun Polysulfone Mats Functionalized with Polyethyleneimine-Capped Silver Nanoparticles
Langmuir (2011)
  • Jessica D. Schiffman, University of Massachusetts - Amherst
  • Yue Wang
  • Emmanuel P. Giannelis
  • Menachem Elimelech
Abstract
The incorporation of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) into polymeric nanofibers has attracted a great deal of attention due to the strong antimicrobial activity that the resulting fibers exhibit. However, bactericidal efficacy of AgNP-coated electrospun fibrous mats has not yet been demonstrated. In this study, polysulfone (PSf) fibers were electrospun and surface-modified using an oxygen plasma treatment, which allowed for facile irreversible deposition of cationically charged polyethyleneimine (PEI)-AgNPs via electrostatic interactions. The PSf–AgNP mats were characterized for relative silver concentration as a function of plasma treatment time using ICP-MS and changes in contact angle. Plasma treatment of 60 s was the shortest time required for maximum loss of bacteria (Escherichia coli) viability. Time-dependent bacterial cytotoxicity studies indicate that the optimized PSf–AgNP mats exhibit a high level of inactivation against both Gram negative bacteria, Escherichia coli, and Gram positive bacteria, Bacillus anthracis and Staphylococcus aureus.
Disciplines
Publication Date
September 19, 2011
Publisher Statement
DOI: 10.1021/la202605z
Citation Information
Jessica D. Schiffman, Yue Wang, Emmanuel P. Giannelis and Menachem Elimelech. "Biocidal Activity of Plasma Modified Electrospun Polysulfone Mats Functionalized with Polyethyleneimine-Capped Silver Nanoparticles" Langmuir Vol. 27 Iss. 21 (2011)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/jessica_schiffman/6/