3RD INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS ON TECHNOLOGY - ENGINEERING & SCIENCE - Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia (2017-02-09)

Antimicrobial Porous Activated Carbon/silver Nanoparticles Composites For Wound Dressing Additives

In any case where the wound is generating moderate to high levels of exudate, an effective absorbent dressing is needed. The use of wound dressings have been associated with increasing healing effects, reduced pain, reduced infection, and reduced overall health care costs [1]. Recently, wound dressings that release antimicrobial agents such as metallic nanoparticles at the wound surface have entered the marketplace. These dressings usually provide a continuous or sustained release of the antibacterial agent at the wound site to impart a long-lasting antimicrobial activity in combination with maintenance of physiologically moist environment for healing. Silver (Ag) compounds are widely used as an antimicrobial agent. The Ag can be effective against a wide range of micro-organisms, including aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, fungi, and viruses [2]. With antibacterial activity, the deodorizing effect is also a required property of wound dressings. Activated carbons (Acc) are widely used in industrial fields such as wastewater treatment, chemical industry, atmospheric pollution control, and pharmacy. The Acc has not only an absorbability of exudate but also a deodorizing effect due to its large surface area. Consequently, in this present study the Acc composites containing Ag nanoparticles (Acc-Ag composites) for high functional wound dressing additives were fabricated using heat treatment under inert argon gas condition. During the thermal treatment, Ag ions were successfully changed to metallic Ag nanoparticles, and simultaneously nitrate ions which have potentially cytotoxicity were eliminated. The reduction of Ag ions was confirmed by XPS. Optimal manufacturing condition of Acc-Ag composites with various Acc/Ag ratios was examined and the deodorizing activities were evaluated with pure Acc using NH3 gas as a test gas. Compared to the pure Acc, the Acc-Ag composites showed excellent deodorant activities. Furthermore, antibacterial activities of the Acc-Ag composites were tested against 3 types of strain. From the results, the Acc-Ag composites showed the enhanced antibacterial activities. Therefore, the Acc-Ag composites have a great potential for high functional wound dressings.
Min hee Kim, Donghwan Cho, Oh Hyeong Kwon, Won Ho Park