Turkish Journal Of Biology, cilt.40, sa.3, ss.643-651, 2016 (SCI-Expanded)
Characterization and microbial growth activity of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nanofibers (NFs) produced by an electrospinning
technique containing different amounts of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) was investigated. AgNPs were synthesized by chemical
reduction of silver nitrate (AgNO3
) (in different weight ratios) in PVA solution followed by electrospinning to produce PVA/AgNPs
NFs. The properties of PVA/AgNPs NFs were studied as a function of the silver content. The morphology and distribution of NFs
and AgNPs were characterized by transmission and scanning electron microscopy. The size of NFs was 135–160 nm, and the size of
AgNPs was 15–27 nm. TEM images clearly showed that spherical AgNPs were homogeneously integrated in PVA NFs. The microbial
activity of NFs containing different amounts of AgNPs was examined against both Gram-negative (Pseudomonas aeruginosa and
Escherichia coli) and Gram-positive (Bacillus megaterium and Staphylococcus aureus) bacteria and against Candida albicans. PVA
NFs containing AgNPs exhibited increasing inhibitory effects against microbial pathogenic strains with increasing AgNPs amounts.
The results suggest that PVA/AgNPs NFs could be used for wound dressing components, protective coatings, biomedical devices, and
water purification.