Evaluation of biological and cytocompatible properties in nano silver-clay based polyethylene nanocomposites

Nano-toxicological evaluation of a biomaterial is of primordial importance for application in therapeutics. This is one of first reports on systematic analysis of in vitro and in vivo cytocompatible properties of an antimicrobial polyethylene/silver-clay hybrid nanocomposite. The polymeric nanocomposite has been prepared using melt compounding route by a twin screw extruder with silver-clay hybrid content varying from 1 to 5 wt%. The morphology of the polyethylene/silver-clay nanocomposites was investigated using a combination of TEM and XRD techniques. The antimicrobial studies suggest strong biocidal action against E. coli, S. aureus and A. niger. In vitro cytocompatibility studies show excellent compatibility with human erythrocytes and dermal fibroblast cell lines, as compared to powder form silver-clay hybrids which demonstrated mild toxicity. Histopathological analysis of skin tissues excised from rats surgically stitched with nanocomposite film show no morphological change following 21 days of exposure. The developed nanocomposites show excellent antimicrobial activity coupled with cytocompatibility and are hence potential candidates for biomedical applications.