Functionalization of electrospun β-cyclodextrin/polyacrylonitrile (PAN) with silver nanoparticles: Broad-spectrum antibacterial property

Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofibers containing β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) and Ag nanoparticles have been prepared by electrospinning technology. The silver nanoparticles were obtained from the AgNO3/PAN/DMF solution, in which AgNO3 acted as the precursor, DMF as reducing reagent, and PAN as protective agent. Then, β-CD was added to above solution and the resultant Ag/β-CD-PAN/DMF solution was directly electrospun to prepare Ag/β-CD-PAN nanofibers. The morphology of the nanofibers has been characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The antimicrobial properties were investigated by Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Gram-negative Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria, and the results indicated that the composite nanofibers showed stronger antibacterial activity.