Nano Ag loaded PVA nano-fibrous mats for skin applications

Silver nano-particles (Ag NPs) loaded polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) electro-spun fibers were fabricated using a combination of microwave-heated and electro-spinning methods for wound healing. A thermic process was then applied to resurface and increase the number of the Ag NPs on the surface of the PVA fiber. The diameter of the Ag NPs loaded electrospun PVA (PVA-Ag) mats were between 100 and 500 nm after heat treatments at different temperatures. When samples were subjected to 60 s of microwave irradiation and 150°C heat treatment, the maximum number of 50-100 nm Ag NPs resurfaced on the PVA nano-fiber. The nano mats significantly inhibited E. coli (gram-positive) and S. aureus (gram-negative) bacteria and displayed high mechanical stability (>45 MPa).