Nanofibers are known to have a high surface area to volume ratio and flexibility which allow for them to be used for drug delivery as well as tissue engineering. Nanofibers used in drug delivery allow the drugs to be released in a controlled way, as the fiber degrade, that minimize side effects. Nanofibers are economically beneficial for the consumer and drug delivery techniques. The most efficient way of synthesizing nanofibers is by electrospinning liquid droplets to stretch them into fibers. The nanofibers are infused with nanoparticles that are used as an antimicrobial agent to fight against infection. NPs are a new approach used to fight bacterial infections that stem from antibiotic resistant bacteria. The nanofibers are composed of poly-lactic acid (PLA) and are infused with silver-gold bimetallic nanoparticles (Ag/Au NPs). The PLA was dissolved in chloroform to create a 10% solution then mixed with the Ag/Au NPs and electrospun at high voltage. The bimetallic NPs were synthesized through a galvanic replacement reaction with maltose coated Ag NPs and chloroauric acid in 5% aqueous triblock F127. This process creates a shell/core Ag/Au NPs. The nanofibers and NPs were characterized with a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and optical spectrometric analysis. The fibers were tested on gram-positive and negative bacteria to observe the antimicrobial effect of the fibers as they degrade and release the NPs held within.

Infusion of silver-gold bimetallic nanoparticles in organic nanofibers for antimicrobial use

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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