Enhancement of Electrospun Polysulfone Mats Using Biocidal Nanomaterials

Contamination of synthetic polymer surfaces by microorganisms is of great concern, especially for wound healing scaffolds, medical devices, and hospital equipment. Hence, there exists a high demand for antibacterial coatings that are flexible and highly porous. Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) and silver (Ag) nanoparticles have demonstrated toxicity to a variety of microorganisms. In this work, by utilizing the electrospinning process, various concentrations of purified SWNTs have been immobilized in polysulfone (PSf) non-woven mats. The development of a second system wherein pure PSf fiber mats are plasma functionalized and subsequently surface modified with synthesized Ag nanoparticles will also be presented. The as-received and purified SWNTs, synthesized Ag nanoparticles, as well as the composite mats have been well characterized. Results on the interaction of the composite mats with bacterial cells will be presented directly linking bacterial cytotoxicity to nanomaterial availability.