Starch-Capped Silver Nanoparticles Impregnated into Propylamine-Substituted PVA Films with Improved Antibacterial and Mechanical Properties for Wound-Bandage Applications.

This research endeavor aims to develop polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) based films capable of blends with silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) for improved antibacterial properties and good mechanical strength to widen its scope in the field of wound dressing and bandages. This study reports synthesis of propylamine-substituted PVA (PA-PVA), Ag-NPs via chemical and green methods (starch capping) and their blended films in various proportions. Employment of starch-capped Ag-NPs as nanofillers into PVA films has substantially improved the above-mentioned properties in the ensuing nanocomposites. Synthesis of PA-PVA, starch-capped Ag-NPs and blended films were well corroborated with UV/Vis spectroscopy, FTIR, NMR, XRD and SEM analysis. Synthesized Ag-NPs were of particle shape and have an average size 20 nm and 40 nm via green and chemical synthesis, respectively. The successful blending of Ag-NPs was yielded up to five weight per weight into PA-PVA film as beyond this self-agglomeration of Ag-NPs was observed. Antibacterial assay has shown good antimicrobial activities by five weight per weight Ag-NPs(G)-encapsulated into PA-PVA blended film, i.e., 13 mm zone inhibition against and 11 mm zone inhibition against . Physical strength was measured in the terms of young's modulus via tensile stress-strain curves of blended films. The five weight per weight Ag-NPs(G)/PA-PVA blend film showed maximum tensile strength 168.2 MPa while three weight per weight Ag-NPs(G)/PVA blend film showed highest values for ultimate strain 297.0%. Ag-NPs embedment into PA-PVA was resulted in strong and ductile film blend than pristine PA-PVA film due to an increase in hydrogen bonding. These good results of five weight per weight Ag-NPs(G)/PA-PVA product make it a potent candidate for wound dressing application in physically active body areas.