Preparation of silver nanoparticles by using the hydrolyzates of poly(lactic acid) and their application for the antibacterial functionalization of poly(lactic acid) non-woven fabric

Abstract

Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) fiber, owning to its biodegradability and biocompatibility, has extensive applications in many fields including textiles, and an enhanced antibacterial function can increase its application value. This work presents an innovative approach to prepare silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using the hydrolytic degradation products of PLA fiber in the scouring process that contain reducing hydrolyzates (lactic acid and oligomers of lactic acid), and to functionalize PLA non-woven fabric using the resulting AgNPs. The preparation and application conditions of AgNPs were discussed. AgNPs with an average size of 80 nm were obtained at pH 9 and 90 °C with no use of an additional reducing agent in the presence of the use of polyvinyl pyrrolidone as a stabilizer, and exhibited good storage stability. PLA non-woven fabric was successfully treated with AgNPs using an impregnation technique at pH 4 and 70 °C, and the treated fabric exhibited excellent antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, even in the case of a low amount of Ag loading.