High-Throughput Fabrication Method for Producing a Silver-Nanoparticles-Doped Nanoclay Polymer Composite with Novel Synergistic Antibacterial Effects at the Material Interface

Abstract

In this study, we report a high-throughput fabrication method at industrial pilot scale to produce a silver-nanoparticles-doped nanoclay-polylactic acid composite with a novel synergistic antibacterial effect. The obtained nanocomposite has a significantly lower affinity for bacterial adhesion, allowing the loading amount of silver nanoparticles to be tremendously reduced while maintaining satisfactory antibacterial efficacy at the material interface. This is a great advantage for many antibacterial applications in which cost is a consideration. Furthermore, unlike previously reported methods that require additional chemical reduction processes to produce the silver-nanoparticles-doped nanoclay, an in situ preparation method was developed in which silver nanoparticles were created simultaneously during the composite fabrication process by thermal reduction. This is the first report to show that altered material surface submicron structures created with the loading of nanoclay enables the creation of a nanocomposite with significantly lower affinity for bacterial adhesion. This study provides a promising scalable approach to produce antibacterial polymeric products with minimal changes to industry standard equipment, fabrication processes, or raw material input cost.

Industrial‐scale fabrication of an osteogenic and antibacterial PLA/silver‐loaded calcium phosphate composite with significantly reduced cytotoxicity

“…There was no significant difference in bacterial count between silver NP + CaP loaded and silver‐CaP loaded samples. These results agree with previous studies that, to achieve a 1‐order (90%) reduction in bacterial number, a minimum 1 wt % silver content is required to incorporate into the polymer fibers …”

“…To produce the composites, an industrial‐scale meltblown unit, SpunBlown®, mounted with a co‐concentric spinneret (Biax Fiber‐Film, WI) was used at the industrial pilot facilities of the Nonwovens Institute (Raleigh, NC). During the fabrication process (Figure ) , the additives were melt‐compounded with PLA in the meltblown‐unit inside‐built screw extruder, meltblown by high‐velocity hot air streams, and attenuated by drag force to form fibrous self‐bonding composite scaffolds . Before fabrication, all materials were dried overnight to remove any absorbed water.…”

Poly (lactic acid)/D‐limonene/ZnO bio‐nanocompositeswith antimicrobial properties

“…17,18 With the aim of growth and reducing microorganisms' adhesion in the PLA, nanoparticles such as silver, copper, or photoactive oxides, such as TiO 2 with antimicrobial activity, are usually considered feasible alternatives. 3,[19][20][21] Nevertheless, the toxicity of silver nanoparticles is still under evaluation, and titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) requires the use of UV irradiations for activation. 22 Alternatively, zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles are of great interest as antimicrobial compounds, as they are nontoxic to the human body, economically affordable, easy to synthesize, and are highly stable at elevated temperatures.…”

Dendritic Silica Particles with Well-Dispersed Ag Nanoparticles for Robust Antireflective and Antibacterial Nanocoatings on Polymeric Glass

“…The other is by forming the ceramic-based AR porous nanocoatings with excellent wear resistance. − However, it usually needs the relatively complicated steps to remove the pore-forming agents and strengthen the adhesion between nanocoating and substrate. In addition, much effort has been devoted to fabricate antibacterial nanocoatings by introducing antibacterial agents to kill bacteria and/or creating nanostructures to decrease the bacterial adhesion. − However, high antibacterial activity of nanocoatings often results in the remarkable decrease of transparency. − …”