The Antibacterial and Antioxidant Effects of Polyethylene Oxide Nanofibers Containing Plant Peptide and Copper

Wounds are one of the most crucial health issues, especially when they are infected with pathogenic microbes. Nowadays, nanofibers have been designed with antibacterial properties to serve as an effective solution for wound healing.

In this research, a polyethylene oxide/copper/peptide nanocomposite was
designed using electrospinning at a ratio of 98/1/1 mg. Then, the characteristics of the nanocomposite were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), tensile testing and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). In addition, the antibacterial properties of the prepared nanofibers were evaluated against standard strains of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, and the antioxidant effects of the said composite were evaluated.

The SEM results showed that copper and peptide nanoparticles were well spread on the surface of the polymer and the tensile test results revealed that this sample has relatively high tensile strength. Also, the designed nanocomposite was resistant to heat according to the DSC and had antibacterial effects against standard microbial strains and antioxidant properties.

The results of this study showed that the designed nanofibers can be used as a compound with antimicrobial and antioxidant properties in the healthcare and hygiene industries to produce wound dressings.