Incorporation of Copper Nanoparticles on Electrospun Polyurethane Membrane Fibers by a Spray Method

Abstract

Electrospinning is an easy and versatile technique to obtain nanofibrous membranes with nanosized fibers, high porosity, and pore interconnectivity. Metal nanoparticles (e.g., Ag, Cu, ZnO) exhibit excellent biocide properties due to their size, shape, release of metal ions, or reactive oxygen species production, and thus are often used as antimicrobial agents. In this study, a combined electrospinning/spray technique was employed to fabricate electrospun polyurethane membranes loaded with copper nanoparticles at different surface densities (10, 20, 25, or 30 μg/cm2). This method allows particle deposition onto the surface of the membranes without the use of chemical agents. SEM images showed that polyurethane fibers own homogeneous thickness (around 650 nm), and that spray-deposited copper nanoparticles are evenly distributed. STEM-EDX demonstrated that copper nanoparticles are deposited onto the surface of the fibers and are not covered by polyurethane. Moreover, a uniaxial rupture test showed that particles are firmly anchored to the electrospun fibers. Antibacterial tests against model microorganisms Escherichia coli indicated that the prepared electrospun membranes possess good bactericidal effect. Finally, the antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 was about 90% after 1 h of direct contact. The obtained results suggested that the electrospun membranes possess antimicrobial activities and can be used in medical and industrial applications.

Recent Progress of Copper-Based Nanomaterials in Tumor-Targeted Photothermal Therapy/Photodynamic Therapy

“…Al Kayal et al created electrospun polyurethane membranes covered with Cu nanoparticles (NPs) and ran an antimicrobial test on Escherichia coli and discovered that over half of the bacteria were destroyed, showing its potent bactericidal effects. Additionally, SARS-CoVer-2 was resistant to the antiviral activity by nearly 90% [ 31 ]. Cu-based NMs have been widely employed in PTT and PDT in recent years because of their advantageous properties, including strong near-infrared (NIR) absorption and photothermal capabilities [ 32 , 33 ], high BET [ 34 , 35 ], and use in tumor imaging.…”