Preparation, Characterization, and Antibacterial Performance of Electrospun Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose/Silver Nanoparticle-based Nanofiber Mats

The present study focuses on the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) via the chemical reduction of silver ions in hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) solutions using ascorbic acid, followed by a systematic investigation of the rheological behavior of the resulting nanocomposite hydrogel. The physicochemical properties of the HPMC solution containing Ag NPs and the resulting nanofiber mats were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), UV–Vis spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). SEM analysis revealed that the electrospun HPMC nanofibers obtained from the optimized 1% HPMC water–ethanol solution exhibited smooth surfaces and uniform morphology, with an optimal average fiber diameter of 670 ± 10 nm for nanofibers containing 37–76 nm Ag NPs, while increasing AgNO₃ concentration resulted in a gradual increase in nanofiber diameter. Microbiological studies demonstrated that nanofibers biomaterials obtained based on HPMC solutions containing Ag NPs with sizes of 37–76 nm exhibit strong antimicrobial activity against the Gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus epidermidi s, Staphylococcus aureus , the Gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli , Pseudomonas aeruginosa , and the fungal strain Candida albicans . The HPMC matrix provided sustained silver release, with cumulative Ag⁺ and Ag NP release reaching 83 ± 2% and 70 ± 2%, respectively, after 72 h. These findings indicate that HPMC/Ag NP-based nanofiber mat biomaterials with antimicrobial properties have significant potential for medical applications. Graphical