Improvement of mechanical properties and antibacterial activity of electrospun poly(D,L-lactide)-based mats by incorporation of ZnO-graft-poly(D,L-lactide) nanoparticles

The main disadvantage of electrospun mats is the propensity to bacterial adhesion associated with their peculiar nanofibrous morphological features. The aim of this work was to design electrospun poly(D,L-lactide) (PLA)-based nanofibrous mats containing ZnO-graft-PLA nanoparticles with enhanced antibacterial properties by promoting good dispersion of such PLA-modified nanoparticles within PIA nano fibers. A careful analysis of the physical properties associated with the precursory solutions was carried out in order to determine their influence on the final morphology of PLA-based mats. The presence of PLA grafts on ZnO nanoparticle surface not only benefited the antibacterial properties of PLA-based mats, but also a significant enhancement of their mechanical properties was perceived at different nanoparticle concentrations (1-5 wt-%) in comparison with those of PLA mats containing bare ZnO. These novel electrospun PLA/ZnO-graft-PLA fibrous composite mats are promising candidates for designing efficient antibacterial wound dressings with enhanced mechanical performance. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.