ANTIBACTERIAL PROPERTIES OF NYLON 6,6 NANOFIBERS CONTAINING SILVER NANOPARTICLES

Abstract: The aim of this study was to develop antimicrobial nanofibers to be a candidate for potential applications. Nylon 6,6 nanofibers were fabricated via electrospinning technique, then the silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) immobilization was performed in order to gain an antimicrobial activity. In this method, generated electrospun Nylon 6,6 nanofibers were immersed into AgNO3 solution for 2 hours and removed from the solution, treated with water, and then reduced using NaBH4 for 2 hours. The formation of AgNPs was occurred through the NaBH4 reducing agent. The obtained Nylon 6,6 nanofibers containing AgNPs were washed with water and dried. Fabricated nanofibers were characterized using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrophometer. Antibacterial activities of AgNPs immobilized nanofibers were evaluated using Gram‐positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram‐negative bacteria (Escherichia coli). The inhibition zones were measured and recorded. According to the analysis, nanofibers showed better antibacterial activity against to Gram‐positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus) as compared to Gram‐negative bacteria (Escherichia coli).