Reduced Graphene Oxide-Based Hybrid Electrospun Nanofibers Doped with Green- Synthesized Silver Nanoparticles: An Antibacterial Wound Healing Scaffold

Abstract

This research focuses on the development of novel antibacterial electrospun fibers composed of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), hydrolyzed collagen (HC), and reduced graphene oxide (rGO), further modified with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) for potential wound healing applications. Green synthesis of AgNPs, using a tea extract, was verified by a colour change from yellowish-brown to dark brown and the appearance of a UVVis absorbance peak at 450 nm. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) revealed mostly spherical AgNPs with a primary size distribution between 10 and 50 nm. Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis confirmed the presence of Ag atoms (a characteristic peak at 3 keV). Particle size analysis indicated an average AgNP size of 133 nm, with a particle size distribution showing a high-intensity peak at 299 nm and a lower-intensity peak at 18.39 nm, and a polydispersity index (PDI) of 0.471. SEM images of rGO-containing mats showed well-preserved fiber morphology with uniformly distributed AgNPs, in contrast to mats without rGO, where significant AgNP agglomeration covered fiber visibility. This suggests rGO's role in preventing nanoparticle aggregation and enhancing dispersion. Swelling ratio analysis demonstrated superior swelling in rGO-containing mats, reaching 390.48% after 48 hours compared to 273.6% for mats without rGO. The incorporation of rGO improves the antibacterial performance and mechanical properties of the scaffold, while green-synthesized nanoparticles further enhance the antibacterial efficacy.