Antimicrobial Electrospun Membranes of Selp/Ag Composites

Abstract

Silk-elastin-like proteins (SELPs) are a new class of bioinspired, biologically synthesized block copolymers, composed of silk and elastin repeating units. SELP electrospun fibre mats show potential for application as wound dressings for skin regeneration. In this work, antimicrobial nanofibrous mats were produced by electrospinning SELP solutions containing different concentrations of silver nitrate without addition of reducing agents. The SELP/Ag composite materials demonstrated antimicrobial activity against both Gram– and Gram+ bacteria. Furthermore, the SELP/Ag composite materials showed no cytotoxicity against normal human skin fibroblasts.