In situ synthesis of silver nanoparticles as a facile strategy to prepare PCL scaffolds with antibacterial activity for a potential treatment for decubitus ulcers

A single-step strategy was proposed for the in situ synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNps) to prepare polycaprolactone scaffolds with antibacterial activity for decubitus ulcers. AgNps were synthesized, by chemical reduction method, on the surface of electrospun polycaprolactone scaffolds that had been treated with argon plasma. Different AgNO₃:NaBH₄ molar ratios (1:1–1:6) and PVP concentrations (1–3–5–10%) were investigated. For further studies, AgNO₃:NaBH₄ molar ratio of 1:3 and a 3% PVP were selected, resulting AgNps with a diameter of 91.54 ± 7.62 nm. Silver release behavior of the scaffolds exhibited a burst release within the first 12 h, followed by a plateau within 2 weeks. The synthesized AgNps demonstrated a potent antibacterial effect against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus strains, reducing viability down to 15%. PCL scaffolds with AgNps showed increased inhibition zones, 13.33 ± 2.17 mm to 14.94 ± 2.37 mm for E. coli and 14.76 ± 0.24 mm to 16.24 ± 1.45 mm for S. aureus. As a result, this single-step approach can be used as an alternative antibacterial dressing for wound injuries.

Graphical abstract