AgNPs/PVA and AgNPs/(PVA/PEI) hybrids: preparation, morphology and antibacterial activity

Two strategies are demonstrated to fabricate AgNPs/PVA and AgNPs/(PVA/PEI) nanofibre hybrids. In the first approach, we synthesized AgNPs in poly(vinylalcohol) (PVA) solution and then electrospun the AgNPs/PVA solution into the AgNPs/PVA nanofibres. In the other one, the polyethylenimine (PEI) was introduced to improve the water-stability of PVA and then the AgNPs were immobilized on electrospun PVA/PEI nanofibres to fabricate the AgNPs/(PVA/PEI) nanofibres. Field-emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were utilized to investigate the morphology and the growth mechanism of the hybrids. The investigations demonstrate that both of the obtained AgNPs/PVA hybrids and AgNPs/(PVA/PEI) hybrids exhibit good water-stability and good antibacterial activity against E. coli and S. aureus.