Electrospun Antibacterial Polymer Composite Scaffolds Incorporating Silver Nanoparticles for Enhanced Wound Healing

Year : 2025 | Volume : 13 | Special Issue 06 | Page : 1025 1051
    By

    Kumaresan. T,

  • Subhashini. S,

  • M. Chrispin Das,

  • P. Senthilkumar,

  • Chandra Sekhar K,

  • P. Janagarathinam,

  • Sumanth S,

  • Denis R,

  1. Lecturer (Senior Grade), Department of Mechanical Engineering, PSG Polytechnic College, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India
  2. Assistant Professor (Senior Grade), Department of Computer Science and Engineering, B S Abdur Rahman Crescent Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
  3. Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, St. Joseph’s Institute of Technology, Old Mahabalipuram Road, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
  4. Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Nehru Institute of Engineering and Technology, Thirumalayampalayam, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India
  5. Assistant professor, Department of Information Technology, SRKR Engineering College, Andhra Pradesh, India
  6. Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, SNS College of Technology, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India
  7. Associate Professor, Department of Computer Science and Applications, Government College for Women, Kolar, Karnataka, India
  8. Assistant Professor, Mount Carmel College Autonomous, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

Abstract

The present study focuses on the synthesis and characterization of electrospun polycaprolactone (PCL)/chitosan nanofiber scaffolds incorporated with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) to enhance antibacterial activity and biological performance. Uniform nanofibers with controlled morphology were fabricated using electrospinning, and different AgNP concentrations were introduced to investigate their influence on fiber structure, antimicrobial response, and cellular interactions. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that increasing AgNP content resulted in well-distributed fibers with reduced diameters, while energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and surface topography confirmed the uniform incorporation of silver within the nanofibers. Antibacterial activity was assessed through zone of inhibition assays and colony-forming unit (CFU) reduction studies against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. A strong dose-dependent antimicrobial effect was observed, with higher AgNP loading producing significant bacterial inhibition. Porosity measurements confirmed that the scaffolds supported adequate permeability for cellular infiltration. SEM-based cell attachment analysis further demonstrated favorable cell morphology and spreading on AgNP-loaded fibers, indicating enhanced biocompatibility. The integration of PCL/chitosan with AgNPs resulted in a multifunctional scaffold capable of providing effective antibacterial protection while supporting cellular interactions, highlighting its suitability for wound healing and tissue engineering applications. Overall, the findings indicate that controlled incorporation of AgNPs into electrospun nanofibers can substantially improve antimicrobial performance without compromising structural integrity or biological compatibility, demonstrating strong potential for biomedical use where infection control and tissue regeneration are critical

Keywords: Electrospun nanofibers, silver nanoparticles, antibacterial scaffold, PCL/chitosan, Cell adhesion, tissue engineering.

[This article belongs to Special Issue under section in Journal of Polymer & Composites (jopc)]

How to cite this article:
Kumaresan. T, Subhashini. S, M. Chrispin Das, P. Senthilkumar, Chandra Sekhar K, P. Janagarathinam, Sumanth S, Denis R. Electrospun Antibacterial Polymer Composite Scaffolds Incorporating Silver Nanoparticles for Enhanced Wound Healing. Journal of Polymer & Composites. 2025; 13(06):1025-1051.
How to cite this URL:
Kumaresan. T, Subhashini. S, M. Chrispin Das, P. Senthilkumar, Chandra Sekhar K, P. Janagarathinam, Sumanth S, Denis R. Electrospun Antibacterial Polymer Composite Scaffolds Incorporating Silver Nanoparticles for Enhanced Wound Healing. Journal of Polymer & Composites. 2025; 13(06):1025-1051. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/jopc/article=2025/view=216170


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Special Issue Subscription Original Research
Volume 13
Special Issue 06
Received 14/05/2025
Accepted 21/06/2025
Published 07/07/2025
Publication Time 54 Days
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