Preparation of free-standing electrospun composite ZnO membrane for antibacterial applications

Here we report, the preparation of flexible free standing Fibrous Composite Membrane (FCM) of PVA-ZnO by combined sol-gel and Electrospinning method. The morphology of the sample was investigated by SEM and TEM which confirmed the uniform distribution of ZnO on the surface of the fiber without much of aggregation. The high purity of the sample was proven by photoluminescence studies. Evaluation of antibacterial properties of the sample against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, showed that the prepared sample by this method is most effective for Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. The mechanism responsible for the bactericidal effect of ZnO has been discussed. The unique properties of the FCM would be highly significant for applications in antimicrobial coatings, UV sensors etc. © 2012 American Scientific Publishers All rights reserved.