Biocompatible poly(ether-ether-ketone)/Ag-zeolite L composite films with antimicrobial properties

• Published in: Materials letters Vol. 212; pp. 339 - 342
• Main Authors: Hamciuc, C., Hamciuc, E., Popovici, D., Danaila, A.I., Butnaru, M., Rimbu, C., Carp-Carare, C., Kalvachev, Y.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.02.2018; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Antiinfectives and antibacterials; Antimicrobial; Bacteria; Biocompatibility; Biomaterials; Biomedical materials; E coli; Fourier transforms; Functional groups; Materials science; Poly(ether ether ketone); Polyether ether ketones; Scanning electron microscopy; Silver; Thin films; Toxicity; Zeolite; Zeolites; Thin films; Antimicrobial; Silver; Zeolite; Poly(ether ether ketone); Biomaterials
• ISSN: 0167-577X; 1873-4979
• DOI: 10.1016/j.matlet.2017.10.120

•Zeolite L particles containing silver ions were prepared.•Poly(ether ether ketone)/Ag-zeolite L composites were prepared and characterized.•The films exhibited antimicrobial activity.•The cytotoxicity of the films was evaluated.•Silver ions-containing zeolite L did not increase substantially the cytotoxicity. Aromatic poly(ether-ether-ketone)s (PEEKs) have received much attention to be used in biomedical field, due to their good physicochemical properties, processability and biocompatibility. Metal-exchanged zeolites have demonstrated to be good biomaterials in various applications, because of their low-toxicity, functional groups for grafting and high dispersibility. In this study, new materials based on silver-containing zeolite L (Ag-ZL) and a PEEK containing phthalide units and pendant carboxylic groups were prepared. The films were characterized by FTIR spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and humidity absorption measurements. Their antimicrobial activity and cytotoxicity were investigated. The films having 12% Ag-ZL showed antimicrobial activity against Gram positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus 25923 ATCC and Staphylococcus aureus MRSA 43300 ATCC) and Gram negative bacteria (Escherichia coli 25922 ATCC) while those having 2% Ag-ZL were active only towards Gram positive bacteria. All the samples exhibited reduced cytotoxicity being thus potential candidates for biomedical applications.