Electrospun Metal-Organic Framework-Fabric Nanocomposites as Efficient Bactericides

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Biomaterials Engineering

Background:

• Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) membranes are widely used but lack inherent antibacterial properties.
• Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) offer tunable structures and functionalities for advanced material development.
• Incorporating antimicrobial agents like silver into materials is crucial for combating bacterial contamination.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop novel polyvinyl chloride (PVC)/metal-organic framework-silver (MOFs-Ag) composite membranes using electrospinning.
• To characterize the structural, morphological, and physical properties of the fabricated composite membranes.
• To evaluate the antibacterial efficacy of the developed membranes against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria.

Main Methods:

• Electrospinning of PVC loaded with UiO-66(COOH)2-Ag and ZIF-8-Ag MOFs.
• Comprehensive characterization using SEM, XRD, TGA, XPS, porosity analysis, and water contact angle measurements.
• Antibacterial testing against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus.

Main Results:

• Successful integration of MOF-Ag crystals into nanofibrous PVC membranes.
• Composite membranes showed increased fiber diameter and average pore size compared to pure PVC.
• Demonstrated significant antibacterial activity up to 95% against both E. coli and S. aureus, correlating with MOFs-Ag loading.

Conclusions:

• Electrospun PVC/MOFs-Ag composite membranes are stable and possess excellent antibacterial properties.
• These materials offer a promising platform for developing advanced antibacterial solutions.
• Potential applications include high-performance face masks, antimicrobial surfaces, and water filtration systems.