Abstract:

Polymethyl methacrylate-co-methacrylic acid (P(MMA-co-MAA)) synthesized by emulsion polymerization was electrospun into nanofibers, and carboxyl groups were used to adsorb cationic photosensitizers to fabricate photodynamic antimicrobial nanofibrous membrane. Gel permeation chromatography, Fourier transform infrared spectrometer, and thermo-gravimetric analysis were employed to characterize P(MMA-co-MAA) polymer. Scanning electron microscope and surface tension meter were used to analyze the surface morphology of the P(MMA-co-MAA) nanofibrous membrane as well as its adsorption behavior of cationic photosensitizers. Finally, the antimicrobial behavior of the as-prepared material was evaluated. The results indicated that P(MMA-co-MAA) polymers with relatively high molecular weight as well as favorable spinnability are successfully prepared. Furthermore, the electrospun P(MMA-co-MAA) nanofibrous membrane shows good adsorption capacity of two cationic photosensitizers, i.e., methylene blue (MB) and (meso-tetrakis (N-methylpyridinium-4-yl) porphyrin) Zn(Ⅱ) (Zn-Por). The membrane decorated by Zn-Por and MB shows desirable antimicrobial effect, and the sterilization rate can reach 99.99%.

Key words: emulsion polymerization, polymethyl methacrylate-co-methacrylic acid, electrospinning, nanofiber, photodynamic antimicrobial