Morphology and antimicrobial properties of Luffa cylindrica fibers/chitosan biomaterial as micro-reservoirs for silver delivery

Micro-spongy structure of Luffa cylindrica fibers (LCF) coated with chitosan (CS). called micro-reservoir, seems to be an interesting route to promote local silver particle (Ag) delivery. In the present paper, the morphology and the antimicrobial activity of LCF-CS-Ag micro-reservoir were investigated. The LCF-chitosan material (LCF-CS) was successfully prepared by contacting LCF with hydroxide sodium solution followed by an acetic acid treatment of chitosan. Scanning electron microscopy pictures (SEM-EDX) showed that the LCF surface was strongly modified by the treatment and confirmed the growth of nanoparticles of silver (NpAg) with a size ranging from 20 to 150 nm onto and into the surface of the cell-fibers (CF). The LCF-CS and LCF-CS-Ag biomaterials exhibit antibacterial activities as bacteriostasis zone diameters range from 7 to 15 mm against Staphylococcus aureus and from 7.3 to 17 mm against Escherichia coli. Furthermore, an inhibitory effect was observed for a relatively long period (18 days). (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.