Preparation of biodegradable polymer/silver nanoparticles composite and its antibacterial efficacy

Biodegradable poly(ethylene oxide) nanofibers containing silver nanoparticles were successfully prepared by the electrospinning without the further reduction process which could cause the damages of nanofibers. Transmission electron microscopy showed that the silver nanoparticles were dispersed in poly(ethylene oxide) nanofibers without aggregation. This facile process would be the effective method to prepare the silver nanoparticles/polymer nanocomposites. Moreover, the silver nanoparticles embedded in the poly(ethylene oxide) nanofibers were responsible for the antibacterial activities against Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae, respectively. Therefore, it is expected that the silver nanoparticles/poly(ethylene oxide) nanocomposites can be used for practical applications as the biomaterial.