Nonhazardous Electrospun Biopolymer Nanofibrous Membrane for Antibacterial Filter

Abstract

Respiratory disease caused by the presence of bacteria in the atmosphere seriously threatens human health. Air pollution as harmful suspended particles, like haze, is conducive to bacterial spread and growth; it must be prevented to avoid harming the respiratory tract. Herein, filtration membranes possessing superior antibacterial activity are considered as an effective means to protect humans from atmospheres contaminated with bacteria. The aim of this study is to prepare an environmentally friendly and biodegradable multifunctional biopolymer composite nanofibrous membrane, which can be used as a candidate material for air filtration applications. Since traditional air filtration materials do not degrade in the natural environment, we synthesized a nanofibrous membrane composed of gelatin (GT) and silk fibroin (SF), in which antibacterial agent can anchor via electrostatic spinning. Also, both GT and SF can break down in the natural environment, which avoids secondary pollution of the atmosphere. Preliminary experiments show that GS nanofibrous membranes are excellent carriers of antibacterial agent for antibacterial applications. Several characterizations and testing measurements indicate that resultant nanofibrous membranes are effective against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Moreover, a water vapor transmission rate test shows the excellent filtration performance of the materials.

Global View and Trends in Electrospun Nanofiber Membranes for Particulate Matter Filtration: A Review

“…[ 127 ] In the same way a high efficiency nanofibrous membrane composed of gelatin (GT) and silk fibroin (SF), in which antibacterial agent can anchor via electrostatic spinning was developed. [ 128 ]…”

Progress in Research and Application of Modified Silk Fibroin Fibers

“…g-C 3 N 4 conferred antibacterial ability to the composite membrane with the antibacterial efficiency of 99% under visible light irradiation for 120 min. [52] In addition, You et al [103] selected AgNO 3 as an antibacterial agent to prepare GT/Ag/SF nanofiber membranes for air filtration, and used the bacteriostatic ring method to characterize the antibacterial activity for S. aureus and E. coli. Results showed that the membrane possessed a significant antibacterial activity against S. aureus and E. coli and a water vapor transmission rate of 3781.6 g m −2 day −1 .…”

Preparation and tensile conductivity of carbon nanotube/polyurethane nanofiber conductive films based on the centrifugal spinning method

“…Li et al prepared polyacrylonitrile (PAN)/polyimide (PI) nanofiber films by electrostatic spinning [15]. You et al prepared antibacterial gelatin (GT)/silk protein (SF) biopolymer nanomembranes with filtering functions by the electrostatic spinning method [16]. Although electrospinning has been studied extensively in the academic field, its low production efficiency has limited its use in industry.…”