Effect of static electricity and thickness of solution blow spun polyamide 6/ AgNP nanofibrous membrane on nanoparticle filtration and microbiological activity

Author(s)

Alvarenga, Augusto D. ; Lima, Bruno de A. ; Teodoro, Kelcilene B. R. ; da Costa, Vittor P. V. ; Aguiar, Monica L. ; Correa, Daniel S.

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Applied Surface Science; v. 652, p. 13-pg., 2024-01-09.

Abstract

The efficient filtration of particulate matter smaller than 0.3 mu m is crucial for preventing microbial and viral infections. Nanofiber membranes (NFMs) produced by solution blow spinning (SBS) modified with antimicrobial nanoparticles have emerged as a promising technology for filtration technology. In this context, here we developed novel NFMs produced by SBS using Polyamide 6 (PA6) which was surface functionalized with different types of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using a simple immersion procedure. The NFMs thickness was customized to evaluate their performance towards the filtration of NP (nanoparticle) from 30 to 300 nm. The incorporation of AgNPs onto the NFMs was also investigated to test their bactericidal activity against E. coli and S. aureus. The NFMs were physically and chemically characterized using distinct techniques. The filtration efficiency of 30-300 nm NP reached around 93.5 %, where the NFMs thickness played a key role in the filtration efficiency and pressure drop. Furthermore, the presence of static electricity in the NFM inherent to the SBS process also contributed to the greater filtration efficiency of smaller particles. Our results demonstrated that NFMs can be produced through SBS in an easy and scalable way, leading to highly efficient filtration systems, with implications for diverse fields such air purification systems and protective clothing. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 18/22214-6 - Towards a convergence of technologies: from sensing and biosensing to information visualization and machine learning for data analysis in clinical diagnosis
• Grantee: Osvaldo Novais de Oliveira Junior
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 23/13428-0 - Conductive composite microneedles manufactured by 3D printing and applications in wearable biosensors
• Grantee: Kelcilene Bruna Teodoro Costa
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Support Program for Fixating Young Doctors
• FAPESP's process: 18/26069-0 - Encapsulation of essential oils for use in pharmaceutical compositions with antimicrobial activity
• Grantee: Wanderley Pereira Oliveira
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants