Controlled In-Situ Growth of ZIF on PVDF-HFP ZnCl2 Electrospun Membrane for Advanced Antibacterial Activity

Abstract

This study explores the historical impact of pandemics, ongoing repercussions of COVID-19, and the urgent need for new strategies to combat highly contagious and deadly diseases. In particular, zeolite imidazolate framework (ZIF) has the potential to improve personal protective equipment (PPE) by effectively dispersing silver nanoparticles and releasing silver ions that have strong bactericidal effects.

PVDF-HFP ZnCl2 membrane will be produced through electrospinning technique. The primary objective is to enhance the membrane’s anti-bacterial properties through the strategic growth of post metalated Zeolitic imidazolate frameworks ZIF/Ag on its surface at different concentrations. The study employs an array of analytical techniques including SEM, PXRD, porosity analysis and water contact angle in order to determine results. SEM findings demonstrate that both 1 and 3 wt. % membranes exhibit a loss of ZIF from the fiber surface at a silver concentration of 1.5g. This is likely due the increased acidity from the elevated silver levels that disrupts the ZIF framework structure. On the other hand, ZIF 8 and L growth increases when silver concentration drops from 0.1g to 0.05g, indicating an improved function for zinc ions in the absence of competitive silver interactions. In addition, membranes achieved up to 98% bacterial inhibition in samples with high silver concentrations in which no ZIF could grow while this inhibition % was reached at a significantly lower Ag loading % than those with higher silver content, where ZIF was successfully formed on the fibers' surfaces. This definitely supports the significance of MOFs in this study as an antibacterial agent. PXRD, WCA and porosity results were in good agreement with the SEM results.