Investigations on Antimicrobial Activity of Collagen and Keratin Based Materials doped with Silver Nanoparticles

Silver nanoparticles as ecological alternative for organic biocides, which are mainly volatile organic compounds (VOC), represent an innovative challenge for treatment of collagen based materials as are medical furskins. The design of new silver nanoparticles solution and polyurethanes doped with has had in view the complex structure of collagen cross linked with chromium compounds. The collagen and keratin structures, rich in chemical groups as are: -COOH, -OH, - NH2, -SH have affinity with polyurethane isocyan groups, -N=C=O and allows obtaining a biocompatible support for reacting with nanosilver particles active against bacteria and fungi. The paper presents the main characteristics of new nanosilver colloidal solutions and nanosilver doped polyurethanes evaluated by using UV-vis, Zetasizer Nano equipment, TEM and the possibilities for interactions with collagen and keratin based materials. The correlation of silver concentration with antibacterial and antifungal resistance of new collagen and keratin supports doped with nanosilver particles was done by using AAS, antibiogram method for Aspergillus, Penicillium, Trichoderma,Candida species and inhibitory minimal concentration for Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATTC), Escherichia coli (ATCC), Acinetobacter spp and E. Enterobacter spp.