Nanocomposites and nanomaterials

Structure and properties of antimicrobial nanocomposite materials filled with silver nanoparticles
Lysenkov E.A.1, Polovenko L.S.1, Stryutsky O.V.2
1Laboratory of Nanocomposite Materials, Petro Mohyla Black Sea National University.
68 Desantnykiv Str., 10, Mykolaiv-54003, Ukraine.
E-mail: ealysenkov@ukr.net
2Department of Chemistry Mesh Polymers and Oligomers, Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry NAS of Ukraine.
Kharkivske Sh., 48, Kyiv-02160, Ukraine.

The presence of antibacterial materials in biomedicine and related fields of science and technology has become essential. Among the functions more desirable for materials used in medicine antibacterial action occupies one of the first positions, because bacterial growth could be prevented on medical devices, prosthetic materials, catheters (urinary or venous catheters) and surgical masks. The development of stabilized polymer-silver nanocomposites containing nanoparticles is considered to be one of the most promising solutions. Here we show the novel approach for synthesis of stabilized silver nanoparticles and study of functional properties of antimicrobial polymeric nanocomposite materials based on oligotetrahydrofuranurethaneurea. Using the novel approach for synthesis we recieve silver nanoparticles with average size around 8-10 nm. We found that stabilized silver nanoparticles has a significant effect on thermophysical and dielectric properties of polymer matrix at relatively low concentrations of the nanofiller (~ 1-2%). Nanocomposite with 1 % of silver nanoparticles shows significant activity for Klebsiella (zone of inhibition is 16 mm) and material with  2 % of silver nanoparticles shows significant activity for Staphylococcus aureus (zone of inhibition is 20 mm). Our results demonstrate that synthesized stabilized nanoparticles have low tendency to aggregation in polymer matrix. We have developed new materials with high antimicrobial activity and improved physical properties. The novel approach for synthesis of stabilized silver nanoparticles open a new window of possibilities in the development of new antimicrobial materials, based on various polymer matrix: from thermoplastic to elastic. The developed materials with improved functional characteristics in the future can be used as antimicrobial coatings, antimicrobial films and creams, as well as construction products with the necessary functional characteristics and antimicrobial function.