AgNPs polypropylene gel films–thermal study and antibacterial activity

In this work, antibacterial activity was investigated in polypropylene gel containing silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). The PP was modified by crosslink under gamma radiation process of pristine PP, in acetylene atmosphere and dose of 12.5 kGy, followed by thermal treatment. The thin films of the polypropylene gel (AgNPs-GelPP) were obtained by extraction in boiling xylene for period of 12 h at 138 °C, followed by decantation at room temperature of 25 °C. The films of AgNPs-GelPP were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and X-ray diffraction. Cytotoxicity tests and reduction of the colony forming number unit were performed in the films. Efficiency of the silver nanoparticles on antibacterial activity was evaluated and analyzed versus DSC. The results showed that crystallinity cooperates to bactericidal effect.