Electrospun Polymer Nanofibers with Antimicrobial Activity
Nowadays, nanofibers with antimicrobial activity are of great importance due to the widespread antibiotic resistance of many pathogens. Electrospinning is a versatile method of producing ultrathin fibers with desired properties, and this technique can be optimized by controlling parameters such as s...
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2022-04-01
|
| Series: | Polymers |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/14/9/1661 |
| _version_ | 1797503265477230592 |
|---|---|
| author | Irena Maliszewska Tomasz Czapka |
| author_facet | Irena Maliszewska Tomasz Czapka |
| author_sort | Irena Maliszewska |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Nowadays, nanofibers with antimicrobial activity are of great importance due to the widespread antibiotic resistance of many pathogens. Electrospinning is a versatile method of producing ultrathin fibers with desired properties, and this technique can be optimized by controlling parameters such as solution/melt viscosity, feeding rate, and electric field. High viscosity and slow feeding rate cause blockage of the spinneret, while low viscosity and high feeding rate result in fiber discontinuities or droplet formation. The electric field must be properly set because high field strength shortens the solidification time of the fluid streams, while low field strength is unable to form the Taylor cone. Environmental conditions, temperature, and humidity also affect electrospinning. In recent years, significant advances have been made in the development of electrospinning methods and the engineering of electrospun nanofibers for various applications. This review discusses the current research on the use of electrospinning to fabricate composite polymer fibers with antimicrobial properties by incorporating well-defined antimicrobial nanoparticles (silver, titanium dioxide, zinc dioxide, copper oxide, etc.), encapsulating classical therapeutic agents (antibiotics), plant-based bioactive agents (crude extracts, essential oils), and pure compounds (antimicrobial peptides, photosensitizers) in polymer nanofibers with controlled release and anti-degradation protection. The analyzed works prove that the electrospinning process is an effective strategy for the formation of antimicrobial fibers for the biomedicine, pharmacy, and food industry. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:48:06Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a8c4f4015f5042379c447f30a475bd21 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4360 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:48:06Z |
| publishDate | 2022-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Polymers |
| spelling | doaj.art-a8c4f4015f5042379c447f30a475bd212023-11-23T09:04:25ZengMDPI AGPolymers2073-43602022-04-01149166110.3390/polym14091661Electrospun Polymer Nanofibers with Antimicrobial ActivityIrena Maliszewska0Tomasz Czapka1Department of Organic and Medicinal Chemistry, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, 50-370 Wrocław, PolandDepartment of Electrical Engineering Fundamentals, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, 50-370 Wrocław, PolandNowadays, nanofibers with antimicrobial activity are of great importance due to the widespread antibiotic resistance of many pathogens. Electrospinning is a versatile method of producing ultrathin fibers with desired properties, and this technique can be optimized by controlling parameters such as solution/melt viscosity, feeding rate, and electric field. High viscosity and slow feeding rate cause blockage of the spinneret, while low viscosity and high feeding rate result in fiber discontinuities or droplet formation. The electric field must be properly set because high field strength shortens the solidification time of the fluid streams, while low field strength is unable to form the Taylor cone. Environmental conditions, temperature, and humidity also affect electrospinning. In recent years, significant advances have been made in the development of electrospinning methods and the engineering of electrospun nanofibers for various applications. This review discusses the current research on the use of electrospinning to fabricate composite polymer fibers with antimicrobial properties by incorporating well-defined antimicrobial nanoparticles (silver, titanium dioxide, zinc dioxide, copper oxide, etc.), encapsulating classical therapeutic agents (antibiotics), plant-based bioactive agents (crude extracts, essential oils), and pure compounds (antimicrobial peptides, photosensitizers) in polymer nanofibers with controlled release and anti-degradation protection. The analyzed works prove that the electrospinning process is an effective strategy for the formation of antimicrobial fibers for the biomedicine, pharmacy, and food industry.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/14/9/1661electrospinningnanofibersantimicrobial activitynanoparticlesbioactive agents |
| spellingShingle | Irena Maliszewska Tomasz Czapka Electrospun Polymer Nanofibers with Antimicrobial Activity Polymers electrospinning nanofibers antimicrobial activity nanoparticles bioactive agents |
| title | Electrospun Polymer Nanofibers with Antimicrobial Activity |
| title_full | Electrospun Polymer Nanofibers with Antimicrobial Activity |
| title_fullStr | Electrospun Polymer Nanofibers with Antimicrobial Activity |
| title_full_unstemmed | Electrospun Polymer Nanofibers with Antimicrobial Activity |
| title_short | Electrospun Polymer Nanofibers with Antimicrobial Activity |
| title_sort | electrospun polymer nanofibers with antimicrobial activity |
| topic | electrospinning nanofibers antimicrobial activity nanoparticles bioactive agents |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/14/9/1661 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT irenamaliszewska electrospunpolymernanofiberswithantimicrobialactivity AT tomaszczapka electrospunpolymernanofiberswithantimicrobialactivity |