Fabrication of silver nanoparticle/polyvinyl alcohol/polycaprolactone hybrid nanofibers nonwovens by two-nozzle electrospinning for wound dressing

• DOI: 10.1007/s12221-016-6813-0
• Publication Date: 2017-01-04T05:47:21Z
• Authors: Lei Du; Huaizhong Xu; Tao Li; Ying Zhang; Fengyuan Zou
• Keywords: Polyvinyl Alcohol; Polycaprolactone; Electrospinning; Silver nanoparticle

In this study, two biodegradable polymers, polycaprolactone (PCL) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) were used to fabricate nanofiber nonwovens (NFNs). Also, the silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) successfully reduced by using tea polyphenols (TP) and incorporated in the NFNs via electrospinning. The morphologies of the NFNs and AgNPs were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), respectively. The PCL nanofibers and PVA nanofibers interweaved each other, and AgNPs with average diameter 1.53±0.15 nm were embedded in the PVA nanofibers. The properties of electrospun NFNs were characterized by pore property, swelling/weight loss, water contact angle, mechanical property, and antibacterial activity. The nanofibers cross-linked to each other forming the 3Dnetwork porous structure with diameter about 1-1.5 μm. Although the hydrophobic PCL was added in the hybrid NFNs, the NFNs still showed hydrophilic propriety, high swelling degree (i.e. swelling degree is 330 % for 48 h), and low weight loss (i.e. weight loss is 22.4 % for 48 h). Also, the hybrid PCL/PVA/AgNPs NFNs exhibited a suitable mechanical property for wound dressings (i.e. tensile strength is 4.27 MPa, and breaking elongation is 88 %). Moreover, the hybrid NFNs effectively inhibited growth of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. In summary, this PCL/PVA/AgNPs NFNs may provide a promising candidate for accelerating wound healing.