International Journal of Nanomedicine (Aug 2010)

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

  • Kamyar Shameli,
  • Mansor Bin Ahmad,
  • Wan Md Zin Wan Yunus,
  • et al

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 2010, no. default
pp. 573 – 579

Abstract

Read online

Kamyar Shameli1, Mansor Bin Ahmad1, Wan Md Zin Wan Yunus1, Nor Azowa Ibrahim1, Russly Abdul Rahman2, Maryam Jokar2,3, Majid Darroudi41Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia; 2Department of Food Technology, Faculty of Food Science and Technology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia; 3Department of Food Technology, Islamic Azad University, Damghan Branch, Damghan, Iran; 4Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology Laboratory, Institute of Advanced Technology (ITMA), Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, MalaysiaAbstract: 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.