Antibacterial efficiency assessment of polymer-nanoparticle composites using a high-throughput microfluidic platform

• Published in: Materials Science & Engineering C 2020-06, Vol.111, p.110754, Article 110754
• Main Authors: Kheiri, Sina, Mohamed, Mohamed G.A., Amereh, Meitham, Roberts, Deborah, Kim, Keekyoung
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anti-Bacterial Agents - chemistry; Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; Antibacterial assessment; Antiinfectives and antibacterials; Bacteria; Disk Diffusion Antimicrobial Tests; E coli; Efficiency; Escherichia coli - drug effects; Hydrophobicity; Lab-On-A-Chip Devices; Liquid silicone rubber; Materials science; Mechanical properties; Metal Nanoparticles - chemistry; Metal oxides; Microfluidic device; Microfluidic devices; Microfluidics; Nanocomposites; Nanocomposites - chemistry; Nanocomposites - toxicity; Nanoparticles; Polymer matrix composites; Polymers; Polymers - chemistry; Silicone rubber; Silicones; Silver; Silver - chemistry; Three dimensional printing; Titanium - chemistry; Titanium dioxide; Zinc oxide; Zinc Oxide - chemistry
• ISSN: 0928-4931; 1873-0191
• DOI: 10.1016/j.msec.2020.110754

Over the past decades, inorganic nanoparticles (NPs), particularly metal oxide NPs, have attracted great attention due to their strong bactericidal effects. Researchers have used NPs to fabricate nanocomposite materials which have innate antibacterial capability. Herein, we present a straightforward method to fabricate antibacterial nanocomposites. Ag, TiO2, and ZnO NPs were dispersed within liquid silicone rubber (LSR) structure in four concentrations. Three different methods were used to evaluate the antibacterial efficiency of the NPs forming the nanocomposite materials: (I) the diffusion method, (II) agar counting plate, and (III) a live/dead assay of E. coli. The mechanical properties and hydrophobicity of the nanocomposites were characterized and correlated to the antibacterial efficiency of the NPs. In order to test the antibacterial efficiency in a high-throughput, cost-effective and efficient manner, a microfluidic device fabricated by 3D printing and soft-lithography methods was used. The LSR-15 wt% TiO2 nanocomposites showed the best antibacterial efficiency. In addition, TiO2 NPs formed the stiffest nanocomposites with very fine, even surface which increased the hydrophobicity of the surface where bacteria attach to grow, preventing bacteria from further growth. •Antibacterial efficiency of three different LSR/NPs nanocomposites was characterized using the optimized microfluidic chip.•A computational fluid dynamic (CFD) model was developed for optimizing the bacteria culture on a microfluidic device.•A low-cost and straightforward 3D printing method was developed to fabricate a microfluidic chip with a high aspect ratio.•This platform offers a high-throughput method for antibacterial efficiency assessment of nanocomposites for biomedical applications.