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Antimicrobial activity of organic photosensitizers embedded in electrospun nylon 6 nanofibers
Author(s) -
Lim Ki Sub,
Oh Kyung Wha,
Kim Seong Hun
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
polymer international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.592
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1097-0126
pISSN - 0959-8103
DOI - 10.1002/pi.4239
Subject(s) - nanofiber , electrospinning , antimicrobial , materials science , crystallinity , benzophenone , scanning electron microscope , nylon 6 , polymer chemistry , nuclear chemistry , nanotechnology , chemistry , polymer , organic chemistry , composite material
Nylon 6 nanofibers containing organic photosensitizers were investigated to demonstrate the antimicrobial properties in the application of the material to protective clothing and home appliances. Benzophenone (BP), 4, 4′‐bis(dimethylamino)benzophenone (MK) and thioxanthen‐9‐one (TX) were used as photosensitizers and the nylon 6 nanofibers were prepared using electrospinning. Field emission scanning electron microscopy morphology of the nanofibers showed that even and continuous nylon 6 nanofibers were well prepared through electrospinning and that the organic photosensitizers were evenly distributed in the nanofibers. There was no significant reduction of crystallinity in the nylon 6 nanofibers through the insertion of the organic photosensitizers. After UV (365 nm) irradiation of the photosensitizers, the intensity of peak photon excitation in the electron spin resonance spectra was increased. Antimicrobial properties of the prepared nanofibers were tested against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli according to JIS Z 2801. It was found that antimicrobial properties of nylon 6 nanofibers containing MK and TX were superior to those of nylon 6 nanofibers containing conventionally used BP. The antimicrobial effects of the nanofibers for S. aureus were superior to those for E. coli . The antimicrobial activity gradually increased as the UV irradiation time increased. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry