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Hydrogels made from chitosan and silver nitrate
Marek Kozicki1, Marek Kołodziejczyk2, Małgorzata Szynkowska3
1Department of Man-Made Fibres, Faculty of Material Technologies and Textile Design, Lodz University of Technology, Żeromskiego 116, 90-924 Łódź, Poland; GeVero Co., Tansmana 2/11, 92-548 Łódź, Poland.
Carbohydrate Polymers
|February 16, 2016
Summary
Chitosan-silver hydrogels were created, showing antimicrobial properties against bacteria like E. coli and B. subtilis. These novel materials offer potential for antibacterial fabric applications.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Biomaterials Engineering
- Polymer Chemistry
Background:
- Chitosan, a natural polymer, is explored for its potential in creating functional materials.
- Silver nanoparticles are known for their antimicrobial efficacy.
- Combining chitosan and silver offers a route to develop novel antimicrobial agents.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the gelation of chitosan solutions with silver nitrate.
- To characterize the formation and properties of chitosan-silver hydrogels and micro/nano-hydrogels.
- To evaluate the antimicrobial activity of modified cotton fabrics.
Main Methods:
- Gelation of chitosan with silver nitrate.
- Sol-gel analysis for swelling properties.
- Mechanical testing, ICP-OES, SEM, DLS, and UV-vis spectrophotometry for characterization.
- Modification of cotton fabric with chitosan-silver hydrogels.
Main Results:
- Continuous chitosan-silver hydrogels formed above a critical chitosan concentration (c*).
- Nano- and micro-hydrogels formed at lower chitosan concentrations (c
- Modified cotton fabrics exhibited significant antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis.
Conclusions:
- Chitosan-silver hydrogels can be effectively synthesized with tunable structures.
- The developed materials impart potent antimicrobial properties to fabrics.
- This research presents a promising approach for creating antibacterial textiles.
