Preparation and properties of antibacterial biomaterial PAA/TiO2/Ag

Bacterial infection caused by medical material is a common problem in the field of medicine. In this work, we aim to develop a novel antimicrobial bioplastic with potential medical value. A novel composite material composed of polyamino acid (PAA) and titanium dioxide/silver nanoparticles (TiO2/Ag NPs) was synthesized by in situ melting polycondensation with different TiO2/Ag loadings. The morphological, antibacterial, mechanical, thermal, and cytotoxicity properties of the PAA/TiO2/Ag composites were investigated. The results showed that uniform nanocomposites with amide bonds were synthesized, and the nanocomposites with 10% TiO2/Ag incorporation exhibited the best thermal and mechanical properties. Cytotoxicity assay showed that the composites significantly promoted the proliferation of MG-63 cells. The composites showed obvious inhibitory effect on both Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, and this effect was increased as the TiO2/Ag NPs doping was increased. These PAA/TiO2/Ag composites are suitable for antibacterial and high-performance biomaterials in the medical field.