Electrospun gelatin nanofibers functionalized with silver nanoparticles

• Published in: Journal of Optoelectronics and Advanced Materials Vol. 10; no. 12; pp. 3512 - 3516
• Main Authors: Tofoleanip, F, Mindru, T Balau, Brinza, F, Sulitanu, N, Sandue, I G, Raileanu, D, Floristean, V, Hagiuc, B A, Ionescue, C, Sandu, I, Tura, V
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.12.2008
• ISSN: 1454-4164

The present paper deals with gelatin nanofibres functionalized with silver nanoparticles, prepared by electrospinning using solutions of gelatin mixed with silver nitrate. As a common solvent for gelatin and AgNO3 was selected a mixture of formic acid and acetic acid in volume ratio 4:1. In this system, formic acid was used as a solvent of gelatine, but also as reducing agent for silver ions in solution. Silver nanoparticles were stabilized through a mechanism that involves an interaction with oxygen atoms of carbonyl groups of gelatin. The gelatin nanofibres functionalised with silver nanoparticles were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and antimicrobial test. The results of investigations by TEM and XRD confirmed the presence of silver nanoparticles with diameters less than 20 nm, uniformly distributed over the surface of smooth nanofibres with an average diameter of 70 nm. The tests demonstrated that gelatin/Ag nanofibers have a good antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coll.