Antimicrobial electrospun membranes of chitosan/poly(ethylene oxide) incorporating poly(hexamethylene biguanide) hydrochloride

Here, antimicrobial nanofibrous membranes were produced by electrospinning of chitosan/poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) solution in the presence of poly(hexamethylene biguanide) hydrochloride (PHMB). The influence of PHMB on the electrospinnability and antimicrobial properties of chitosan/PEO nanofibers were studied. Further, viscosity of the solutions as well as morphology of the nanofibrous structures were investigated. Results revealed that incorporation of PHMB in chitosan/PEO solutions led to decrease in the zero-shear rate viscosity up to 20%. Moreover, increasing PHMB from 0.5 mM to 1 mM led to formation of thinner fibers with diameters ranging from 240 nm to 60 nm, respectively. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrums indicated the functional groups of chitosan, PEO and PHMB in nanofibrous structure. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) thermograms indicated interaction of PHMB with PEO and chitosan through alteration in the thermal behavior of the nanofibers. Inhibition of the bacteria growth for both Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were achieved on the PHMB loaded nanofibers. Also, a burst release of PHMB from mats has been observed in the first hour. These findings suggest that there is a great potential in fabrication of biomaterials with incorporation of PHMB using electrospinning.