Incorporação de nanopartículas de prata em fibras eletrofiadas de zeína e poli(N-isopropilacrilamida) (PNIPAAm)

Abstract

Biomaterials are non-living materials that can be applied to a living organism without causing any diverse reaction. Zein and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm), in form of electrospun blends, stand out among polymeric materials with this purpose. Zein is a corn protein, biocompatible and also biodegradable. PNIPAAm also features biocompatibility, besides termosensibility. Silver nanoparticles have antimicrobian activity, promoting greater effectiveness in electrospun fibers in their application as biomaterial and avoiding bacterial growth in the environment in which they are applied. Considering this, the present study evaluated the influence of silver nanoparticles in zein and PNIPAAm electrospun fibers. The fibers thermic behaviour was studied through TGA analysis. The morphology and the average diameter were evaluated through scanning electron microscopy. Antibiograms were used to study fibers antimicrobian activity against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans. The nanoparticles quantity was determined by UV-VIS spectroscopy. It was found that the fibers average diameter decreases considerably with increasing content of nanoparticles in the environment, while the antimicrobian activity increases. There were no alterations in fibers thermical stability.