Biocomposites of nanofibrillated cellulose, polypyrrole, and silver nanoparticles with electroconductive and antimicrobial properties

Biomacromolecules. 2014 Oct 13;15(10):3655-63. doi: 10.1021/bm500939x. Epub 2014 Sep 11.

Abstract

In this work, flexible and free-standing composite films of nanofibrillated cellulose/polypyrrole (NFC/PPy) and NFC/PPy-silver nanoparticles (NFC/PPy-Ag) have been synthesized for the first time via in situ one-step chemical polymerization and applied in potential biomedical applications. Incorporation of NFC into PPy significantly improved its film formation ability resulting in composite materials with good mechanical and electrical properties. It is shown that the NFC/PPy-Ag composite films have strong inhibition effect against the growth of Gram-positive bacteria, e.g., Staphylococcus aureus. The electrical conductivity and strong antimicrobial activity makes it possible to use the silver composites in various applications aimed at biomedical treatments and diagnostics. Additionally, we report here the structural and morphological characterization of the composite materials with Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, and scanning and transmission electron microscopy techniques.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Infective Agents / chemistry*
  • Anti-Infective Agents / pharmacology*
  • Cellulose / chemistry*
  • Cellulose / pharmacology
  • Electric Conductivity
  • Metal Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Microscopy, Electron, Transmission / methods
  • Polymerization
  • Polymers / chemistry*
  • Polymers / pharmacology
  • Pyrroles / chemistry*
  • Pyrroles / pharmacology
  • Silver Compounds / chemistry*
  • Silver Compounds / pharmacology*
  • Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared / methods
  • Staphylococcus aureus / drug effects

Substances

  • Anti-Infective Agents
  • Polymers
  • Pyrroles
  • Silver Compounds
  • polypyrrole
  • Cellulose