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Electrospun Polycaprolactone/ZnO Nanocomposite Membranes with High Antipathogen Activity
Elizaveta S Permyakova1, Anton M Manakhov1,2, Philipp V Kiryukhantsev-Korneev1
1National University of Science and Technology "MISIS", 119049 Moscow, Russia.
Abstract:
The spread of bacterial, fungal, and viral diseases by airborne aerosol flows poses a serious threat to human health, so the development of highly effective antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral filters to protect the respiratory system is in great demand. In this study, we developed ZnO-modified polycaprolactone nanofibers (PCL-ZnO) by treating the nanofiber surface with plasma in a gaseous mixture of Ar/CO2/C2H4 followed by the deposition of ZnO nanoparticles (NPs). The structure and chemical composition of the composite fibers were characterized by SEM, TEM, EDX, FTIR, and XPS methods. We demonstrated high material stability. The mats were tested against Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogenic bacteria and pathogenic fungi and demonstrated high antibacterial and antifungal activity.
Insights
This study developed advanced ZnO-modified polycaprolactone nanofibers for effective air filtration. These novel nanofibers show high antibacterial and antifungal activity, offering enhanced respiratory protection against airborne pathogens.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Engineering
- Nanotechnology
- Infectious Disease Control
Background:
- Airborne transmission of bacterial, fungal, and viral diseases presents a significant global health risk.
- Effective respiratory protection requires advanced filtration materials with potent antimicrobial properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and characterize novel Zinc Oxide (ZnO)-modified polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofibers (PCL-ZnO) for enhanced air filtration.
- To evaluate the antibacterial and antifungal efficacy of the developed PCL-ZnO nanofiber mats.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of PCL-ZnO nanofibers via plasma treatment with Ar/CO2/C2H4 and subsequent ZnO nanoparticle deposition.
- Characterization of composite fiber structure and composition using SEM, TEM, EDX, FTIR, and XPS.
- Assessment of antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and antifungal activity against pathogenic fungi.
Main Results:
- Successfully synthesized and characterized stable PCL-ZnO composite nanofibers.
- Demonstrated significant antibacterial efficacy against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogenic bacteria.
- Confirmed high antifungal activity against tested pathogenic fungi.
Conclusions:
- The developed PCL-ZnO nanofibers exhibit excellent material stability and potent antimicrobial properties.
- These novel nanofibers represent a promising solution for developing highly effective filters for respiratory protection against airborne pathogens.
