Antibacterial activity of nanofibrous mats coated with lysozyme-layered silicate composites via electrospraying

A mixture of positively charged lysozyme (LY) and rectorite (REC) composites was electrosprayed onto negatively charged electrospun cellulose acetate (CA) nanofibrous mats. The morphology and average diameter of CA mats and the mats coated with LY-REC were investigated by scanning electron microscopy. The composite mats were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and the results confirmed that LY and REC were successfully immobilized on the surface of CA mats via electrospraying technique. The small-angle X-ray diffraction results showed that the silicate layers of REC were completely exfoliated. The enzyme activity and bacterial inhibition analysis verified that the antimicrobial effect of the composite fibrous mats was enhanced with the addition of REC. The protein delivery properties and the bound enzyme activity after removal of unbound lysozyme from fibers were measured and showed that the electrospraying technique was suitable for enzyme immobilization. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.