Measurement of antibacterial properties of foil-backed electrospun nanofibers

Abstract

Current methodologies for evaluation of antibacterial properties of traditional textiles are not applicable to foil-backed, poorly-absorbent electrospun nanofiber materials, since existing test methods require absorbent fabrics. Since electrospun nanofibers are adhered to the foil backing only by electrostatic interactions, methods used to evaluate antibacterial properties of surfaces cannot be used because these protocols cause the nanofibers to lift from the foil backing. Therefore, a novel method for measurement of the antibacterial properties of electrospun metallic foil-backed nanofiber materials was developed. This method indicated that acetate-based nanofibers manufactured to contain 5 to 30 weight percent of cold-pressed hemp seed oil or full-spectrum hemp extract inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus aureus in a dose-dependent manner, from 85.3% (SEM = 2.2) inhibition to 99.3% (SEM = 0.15) inhibition, respectively. This testing method represents an advanced manufacturing prototype procedure for assessment of antibacterial properties of novel electrospun, metallic foil-backed nanofiber materials.