Silver nanoparticle-modified melt-blown polypropylene: Antibacterial and antifungal properties and antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2

• Published in: Materials letters 2023-09, Vol.346, p.134557-134557, Article 134557
• Main Authors: Medvedev, Alexander Zh, Bokhonov, Boris B., Kiselev, Oleg S., Ukhina, Arina V., Dudina, Dina V., Alekseev, Alexander Y., Adamenko, Lyubov S., Solomatina, Maria V., Shestopalov, Alexander M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antibacterial activity; Antifungal activity; Antiviral activity; Polypropylene; SARS-CoV-2; Silver nanoparticle
• ISSN: 0167-577X; 1873-4979
• DOI: 10.1016/j.matlet.2023.134557

•Chemical metallization was used to modify polypropylene fibers by Ag nanoparticles.•The metallization method of the fiber tape is technologically simple and scalable.•Ag coatings on the fiber surface consisted of crystallites 4–14 nm in size.•Nano Ag-modified fiber material showed antibacterial and antifungal properties.•The material was also highly efficient against SARS-CoV-2 virus. Melt-blown polymer fiber materials are frequently used in the face mask manufacturing. In the present work, a melt-blown polypropylene tape was modified by silver nanoparticles using chemical metallization. The silver coatings on the fiber surface consisted of crystallites 4–14 nm in size. For the first time, these materials were comprehensively tested for antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral activity. The silver-modified materials showed antibacterial and antifungal activities, especially at high concentrations of silver, and were found to be efficient against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The silver-modified fiber tape can be used in the face mask manufacturing and as an antimicrobial and antiviral component in filters of liquid and gaseous media.