A green functionalized method of Cu-BTC on poly(vinyl alcohol)/chitosan composite mat and its antibacterial potential

Abstract

Recent outbreaks of infectious diseases have stimulated considerable interest with reports that millions of people are at risk of disease in different forms worldwide. Therefore, Cu-based framework functionalized nanofibers, were developed as modern antibacterial hybrid materials to produce outstanding synergistic properties derived from each composition. Cu-BTC, a well-known Cu-based framework, is proposed to provide antibacterial properties with lower cytotoxicity and prolonged durability. Chitosan/polyvinyl alcohol nanofibers were electrospun with increased diameter size by boosting chitosan concentrations within a range from 80 to 570 nanometers (nm). Cu-BTC nanopowders were synthesized by a simple sonochemical method and FTIR results indicated formation of frameworks from the Cu-O coordinated bond. Cu-BTC was functionalized onto chitosan/polyvinyl alcohol nanofibers by direct and self-assembly approaches. Results of SEM and EDX were that the direct method exhibited better Cu-BTC functionalization on fiber surface and provided good dispersion and uniform coverage of Cu-BTC particles with high Cu concentration content of 1.20% wt. Antibacterial test was quantified using the clear zone of inhibition (AATCC-147). The values exhibited the no bacterial growth against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli at 2.01±0.02 and 1.99±0.05 mm, respectively. Cu-BTC functionalized chitosan/poly vinyl alcohol hybrid nanofibers could improve antibacterial properties compared to neat composite mats, but limitation of their features might be inadequate for encouraging water uptake hydrated from body cells, resulting in lower than estimated performance.

Keywords

• Antibacterial activity
• Cu-BTC
• Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)
• Chitosan
• Composite nanofibers
• Hybrid composites