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Abstract: A novel, simple method was developed to synthesize biocompatible composites containing 50% cellulose (CEL) and 50% keratin (KER) and silver in the form of either ionic (Ag+) or Ag0 nanoparticle (Ag+NPs or Ag0NPs). In this method, butylmethylimmidazolium chloride ([BMIm+Cl-]), a simple ionic liquid, was used as the sole solvent and silver chloride was added to the [BMIm+Cl-] solution of [CEL+KER] during the dissolution process. The silver in the composites can be maintained as ionic silver (Ag+) or completely converted to metallic silver (Ag0) by reducing it with NaBH4. Results of spectroscopy (Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD)) and imaging (scanning electron microscope (SEM)) measurements confirm that CEL and KER remain chemically intact and homogeneously distributed in the composites. Powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) and SEM results show that the silver in the [CEL+KER+Ag+] and [CEL+KER+Ag0] composites is homogeneously distributed throughout the composites in either Ag+ (in the form of Ag2O nanoparticles (NPs)) or Ag0NPs form with size of (9 ± 1) nm or (27 ± 2) nm, respectively. Both composites were found to exhibit excellent antibacterial activity against many bacteria including Escherichia coli, Staphylococus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, methicillin resistant Staphylococus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin resistant Enterococus faecalis (VRE). The antibacterial activity of both composites increases with the Ag+ or Ag0 content in the composites. More importantly, for the same bacteria and the same silver content, [CEL+KER+Ag0] composite exhibits relatively greater antimicrobial activity against bacteria compared to the corresponding [CEL+KER+Ag+] composite. Experimental results confirm that there was hardly any Ag0NPs release from the [CEL+KER+Ag0NPs] composite, and hence its antimicrobial activity and biocompatibility is due, not to any released Ag0NPs but rather entirely to the Ag0NPs embedded in the composite. Both Ag2ONPs or Ag0NPs were found to be toxic to human fibroblasts at higher concentration (>0.72 mmol), and that for the same silver content, [CEL+KER+Ag2ONPs] composite is relatively more toxic than [CEL+KER+Ag0NPs] composite. As expected, by lowering the Ag0NPs concentration to 0.48 mmol or less, the [CEL+KER+Ag0NPs] composite can be made biocompatible while still retaining its antimicrobial activity against bacteria such are E. coli, S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, MRSA, VRE. These results together with our previous finding that [CEL+KER] composites can be used for controlled delivery of drugs such as ciprofloxacin clearly indicate that the [CEL+KER+Ag0NPs] composite possess all required properties for successfully used as high performance dressing to treat chronic ulcerous infected wounds.
Keywords: Celulose, Keratin, Cmposites, Biocompatible, Ag nanoparticles, one-pot synthesis, Antibacterial, Antiviral
Published in RUNG: 28.11.2016; Views: 6548; Downloads: 0
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Abstract: Bi2O3-based pyrochlore nanomaterials and their photocatalytic, optoelectronic and crystallographic properties are the research topics of this doctoral dissertation. We synthesized these materials at nanoscale, since they are expected to possess photoactivity in the visible-light spectrum, which is an important target for the high-performance photocatalysts. To prepare nanoparticles that are not agglomerated, different synthesis methods (coprecipitation, coprecipitation followed by the digestion, reverse micelle) and post-treatments (furnace or hydrothermal reactor) were examined. Micrometer size materials were prepared with the solid-state reaction and annealing at high temperature. Bi2Ti2O7 nanoparticles were synthesized with the coprecipitation reaction, followed by annealing at 570 °C in the furnace or in the hydrothermal reactor at 230 °C for 18h in NH4OH medium. UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectra of the Bi2Ti2O7 samples showed that they exhibit the maximum absorption edge at ~420-440 nm. The UV-Vis diffuse reflectance measurements of Bi2Ti2O7 loaded with 10 wt. % of Ag as a co-catalyst showed an enhanced absorbance in the visible region, presumably due to a contribution of Local Surface Plasmon Resonance. The Bi2Ti2O7 nanoparticles are not photocatalytically active under the visible light irradiation without assistance of a sacrificial reagent. The photocatalytic activity does not increase even with Ag as a co-catalyst under visible light irradiation. All samples are active under UV light irradiation, especially the sample with Ag that is able to decolourize 7 mg/L of metyl orange in just 3 min of exposure to UV light. However, H2O2 as a sacrificial reagent increases the photocatalytic activity of Bi2Ti2O7 under visible light irradiation. Phase pure pyrochlore Bi1.647Nb1.118Fe1.157O7 (BNF) nanoparticles were synthesized with coprecipitation reaction and further annealing in the furnace at 570 °C for 7h or 15h and in the hydrothermal reactor at 160 °C for 18h in 3 M or 6 M NaOH medium. The BNF materials exhibit shift toward longer wavelengths in absorbance of visible light (up to ~550-650 nm). This result confirmed that incorporation of Fe in the pyrochlore structure decreases the band gap. The BNF nanoparticles annealed for 7h showed intense photoactivity under visible light irradiation in the presence of a sacrificial reagent. The improved photoactivity, much better than with BNF, was shown for the composite nanoparticles BiOCl/BNF. They decolourize 100 % of the 7 mg/L methyl orange within only 2h of the visible light irradiation in the presence of H2O2. Phase pure pyrochlore Bi1.9Te0.58Fe1.52O6.87 (BTF) nanoparticles were synthesised by coprecipitation reaction and further annealing in the furnace at 570 °C for 7h. Although the BTF nanoparticles include higher amount of Fe than BNF nanoparticles and exhibit narrower band gap, the photoactivity of these nanoparticles is a bit lower than that of BNF nanoparticles. We assume that Fe at some critical concentration causes formation of mid-band states, which act as recombination centers. The same as BiOCl/BNF, the BiOCl/BTF composite is able to decolourize 100 % of the 7 mg/L MO within 2h of the visible light irradiation in the presence of H2O2. Based on the band gap determination and estimation of valence and conduction band levels, the proposed photodecolourization mechanisms are discussed. The conduction band levels of all synthesized materials lie more positively than O2/O2● redox potential (vs. negative hydrogen electrode potential), but are more close to H2O2/●OH redox potential. Thus, we assume that the photogenerated electrons form ●OH radicals, the species that induce dye decolourization under visible light irradiation. We believe that better performance of composite materials (BiOCl/BNF, BiOCl/BTF) is due to the formation of heterojunction, which facilitates the electron transfer between semiconductors, and O2 vacancy states formation in the BiOCl material.
Keywords: nanoparticles, pyrochlore structure, photocatalysis, visible light
Published in RUNG: 26.06.2015; Views: 10981; Downloads: 229
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