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. 2023 Mar 13:11:1083399.
doi: 10.3389/fchem.2023.1083399. eCollection 2023.

PVC containing silver nanoparticles with antimicrobial properties effective against SARS-CoV-2

Daniel J da Silva  1 , Guilherme B Gramcianinov  1 , Pamela Z Jorge  1 , Vanessa B Malaquias  2 , Augusto A Mori  2 , Mário H Hirata  2 , Sergio A M Lopes  3 , Luciano A Bueno  1 , Mathilde Champeau  1 , Danilo J Carastan  1
Affiliations

PVC containing silver nanoparticles with antimicrobial properties effective against SARS-CoV-2

Daniel J da Silva et al. Front Chem. .

Abstract

Poly (vinyl chloride) (PVC) is commonly used to manufacture biomedical devices and hospital components, but it does not present antimicrobial activity enough to prevent biofouling. With the emergence of new microorganisms and viruses, such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that was responsible for the global pandemic caused by Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), it is evident the importance of the development of self-disinfectant PVC for hospital environments and medical clinics where infected people remain for a long time. In this contribution, PVC nanocomposites with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were prepared in the molten state. AgNPs are well-known as antimicrobial agents suitable for designing antimicrobial polymer nanocomposites. Adding 0.1 to 0.5 wt% AgNPs significantly reduced Young's modulus and ultimate tensile strength of PVC due to the emergence of microstructural defects in the PVC/AgNP nanocomposites, but the impact strength did not change significantly. Furthermore, nanocomposites have a higher yellowness index (YI) and lower optical bandgap values than PVC. The PVC/AgNP nanocomposites present virucidal activity against SARS-CoV-2 (B.1.1.28 strain) within 48 h when the AgNP content is at least 0.3 wt%, suitable for manufacturing furniture and hospital equipment with self-disinfectant capacity to avoid secondary routes of COVID-19 contagion.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; nanocomposites; poly(vinyl chloride); silver.

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Conflict of interest statement

SL was employed by BRGoods Indústria e Comércio de Produtos Hospitalares. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. The authors declare that all funders were not involved in the collection, analysis, interpretation of the study design and data, or the writing or submission of the article for publication decisions.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
(A) UV-Vis spectrum and (B) FTIR spectrum of the AgNP suspension.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Hydrodynamic diameter distribution of the AgNP suspension.
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
SEM images of the PVC and PVC/XAgNP nanocomposites, where X corresponds to the AgNP content (wt%). Images were obtained from the cryofractured internal surfaces (left) and external surfaces (right) of the test specimens. Different defects are highlighted in circles: cavities (red), particles at the exterior surface (blue), and interfacial voids (yellow).
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
Diffuse reflectance (Rd) spectra of the PVC and PVC/XAgNP nanocomposites (X corresponds to the AgNP content in wt%).
FIGURE 5
FIGURE 5
FTIR spectra from the PVC and PVC/XAgNP nanocomposites (X corresponds to the AgNP content in wt%).
FIGURE 6
FIGURE 6
(A) Carbonyl (IC=O), (B) polyene (IC=C), and (C) hydroxyl (IOH) indexes from FTIR spectra of the PVC and PVC/XAgNP nanocomposites (X corresponds to the AgNP content). Statistical analyses are for each sample group, using Tukey’s multiple comparison tests. ns = data are not significantly different (p-value >0.05).
FIGURE 7
FIGURE 7
C1s XPS high-resolution spectra from the PVC and PVC/XAgNP nanocomposites (X corresponds to the AgNP content in wt%).
FIGURE 8
FIGURE 8
Ag3d XPS high-resolution spectra from the PVC and PVC/XAgNP nanocomposites (X corresponds to the AgNP concentration).
FIGURE 9
FIGURE 9
(A) Young’s modulus and (B) ultimate tensile strength of the PVC and PVC/XAgNP nanocomposites, where X corresponds to the AgNP content. The data represent mean ± standard deviation (SD) (n = 3–6). Statistical analyses are for each sample group, using Tukey’s multiple comparison tests. The p-value is considered significant at <0.05 (95% confidence level). ***p < 0.001, **p < 0.01, and *p < 0.05 indicate mean data significantly different.
FIGURE 10
FIGURE 10
Izod impact strength of the PVC and PVC/XAgNP nanocomposites, where X corresponds to the AgNP content (wt%). The data represent mean ± SD (n = 5). Statistical analyses are for each sample group, using Tukey’s multiple comparison tests. ns = data are not significantly different (p-value >0.05).
FIGURE 11
FIGURE 11
TGA thermograms (A) and the DTG curves (B) from the PVC and PVC/XAgNP nanocomposites, where X corresponds to the AgNP content (wt%).
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