Abstract
► Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are prepared using carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCTS). ► CMCTS–AgNPs are mixed with polyethylene oxide (PEO). ► CMCTS–AgNPs/PEO mixture is subjected to electrospinning. ► The electrospun nanofiber is evaluated against pathogenic/non-pathogenic bacteria.
A facile method to synthesize silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCTS), which act as reducing agent for silver ions as well as protecting agent for the formed AgNPs, is reported. CMCTS embedded AgNPs are mixed with polyethylene oxide (PEO). The blend polymers containing AgNPs are electrospun resulting in blend nano-fiber mats. The formation of AgNPs has been confirmed using UV–vis and TEM. The diameter range of 12–18nm of well-dispersed AgNPs with a concentration of 100ppm was obtained. The electrospun mats are characterized using SEM, EDX as well as TGA. Antimicrobial activity against different species of pathogenic/nonpathogenic; Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853 and Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 in addition to the fungus Candida albicans ATCC 10231 was studied. The results show excellent antimicrobial activity compared with nanofibers without AgNPs and AgNPs alone.