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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Effect of Graphene Nanoplatelets on the Physical and Antimicrobial Properties of Biopolymer-Based Nanocomposites

Roberto ScaffaroLuigi BottaFrancesco Paolo La MantiaAndrea MaioMaria Chiara Mistretta

subject

BiocideMaterials scienceScanning electron microscopeKineticsAntimicrobial activity; Ciprofloxacin; Drug release; Graphene nanoplatelets (GnPs); Nanocomposites; Poly(lactic acid) (PLA); Materials Science (all)02 engineering and technologyengineering.material010402 general chemistry01 natural scienceslcsh:TechnologyArticlepoly(lactic acid) (PLA)ciprofloxacinnanocompositesGeneral Materials ScienceComposite materiallcsh:Microscopydrug releaselcsh:QC120-168.85NanocompositeNanocompositeantimicrobial activitylcsh:QH201-278.5lcsh:T021001 nanoscience & nanotechnologyAntimicrobialBiodegradable polymerCopolyestergraphene nanoplatelets (GnPs)0104 chemical sciencesChemical engineeringnanocomposites; graphene nanoplatelets (GnPs); poly(lactic acid) (PLA); antimicrobial activity; drug release; ciprofloxacinlcsh:TA1-2040engineeringlcsh:Descriptive and experimental mechanicsMaterials Science (all)Biopolymerlcsh:Electrical engineering. Electronics. Nuclear engineering0210 nano-technologylcsh:Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General)lcsh:TK1-9971

description

In this work, biopolymer-based nanocomposites with antimicrobial properties were prepared via melt-compounding. In particular, graphene nanoplatelets (GnPs) as fillers and an antibiotic, i.e., ciprofloxacin (CFX), as biocide were incorporated in a commercial biodegradable polymer blend of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and a copolyester (BioFlex®). The prepared materials were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and rheological and mechanical measurements. Moreover, the effect of GnPs on the antimicrobial properties and release kinetics of CFX was evaluated. The results indicated that the incorporation of GnPs increased the stiffness of the biopolymeric matrix and allowed for the tuning of the release of CFX without hindering the antimicrobial activity of the obtained materials.

yearjournalcountryeditionlanguage
2016-05-09Materials; Volume 9; Issue 5; Pages: 351
10.3390/ma9050351https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ma9050351