Fabrication, Characterization, and Antibacterial Properties of Electrospun Membrane Composed of Gum Karaya, Polyvinyl Alcohol, and Silver Nanoparticles

Abstract EN

Gum karaya (GK), a natural hydrocolloid, was mixed with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) at different weight ratios and electrospun to produce PVA/GK nanofibers.

An 80 : 20 PVA/GK ratio produced the most suitable nanofiber for further testing.

Silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) were synthesised through chemical reduction of AgNO3 (at different concentrations) in the PVA/GK solution, the GK hydroxyl groups being oxidised to carbonyl groups, and Ag+ cations reduced to metallic Ag-NPs.

These PVA/GK/Ag solutions were then electrospun to produce nanofiber membranes containing Ag-NPs (Ag-MEMs).

Membrane morphology and other characteristics were analysed using scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray analysis, transmission electron microscopy, and UV-Vis and ATR-FTIR spectroscopy.

The antibacterial activity of the Ag-NP solution and Ag-MEM was then investigated against Gram-negative Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus.

Our results show that electrospun nanofiber membranes based on natural hydrocolloid, synthetic polymer, and Ag-NPs have many potential uses in medical applications, food packaging, and water treatment.