Title: Highly tough and antibacterial nanocomposite film of poly(vinyl alcohol)/graphene-oxide-ZnO for biomedical application

Authors: Hon Nhien Le; Le Nhut Linh Nguyen; Thi Bang Tam Dao; Trung Do Nguyen; Chi Nhan Ha-Thuc

Addresses: Faculty of Materials Science and Technology, VNUHCM University of Science, 227 Nguyen Van Cu Street, Ward 4, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City, 700000, Vietnam; Vietnam National University, Linh Trung Ward, Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City, 700000, Vietnam ' Faculty of Materials Science and Technology, VNUHCM University of Science, 227 Nguyen Van Cu Street, Ward 4, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City, 700000, Vietnam; Vietnam National University, Linh Trung Ward, Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City, 700000, Vietnam ' Faculty of Materials Science and Technology, VNUHCM University of Science, 227 Nguyen Van Cu Street, Ward 4, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City, 700000, Vietnam; Vietnam National University, Linh Trung Ward, Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City, 700000, Vietnam ' Faculty of Materials Science and Technology, VNUHCM University of Science, 227 Nguyen Van Cu Street, Ward 4, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City, 700000, Vietnam; Vietnam National University, Linh Trung Ward, Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City, 700000, Vietnam ' Faculty of Materials Science and Technology, VNUHCM University of Science, 227 Nguyen Van Cu Street, Ward 4, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City, 700000, Vietnam; Vietnam National University, Linh Trung Ward, Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City, 700000, Vietnam

Abstract: In this experiment, graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets are synthesised by cascade design of graphite oxidation reaction and decorated with zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles using sonochemical technology. Obtained GO-ZnO nanomaterial is applied in the preparation of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) films by polymer solution casting method. Nanocomposite thin films of PVA/GO-ZnO were investigated using moisture analysis, mechanical tensile measurement, swelling property in ethanol solution, antibacterial test and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). It is found that appropriate formulation of PVA/0.5%GO-ZnO film gave the improved tensile strength of 39.99 MPa, elastic modulus of 97.06 MPa and especially the elongation of 670.32%. Especially, after immersion in ethanol 75% for 1 h, tensile elongation and energy to break of PVA/0.5%GO-ZnO/ethanol films increased significantly by 897.29% and 708.95 kgf/mm, respectively. The antiseptic ethanol immersion made the nanocomposite film extraordinarily tough and effectively antimicrobial for wound dressing application. The PVA/0.5%GO-ZnO/ethanol nanocomposite is a novel formulation for biomedical application.

Keywords: polyvinyl alcohol nanocomposite; graphene oxide - zinc oxide; highly tough; antibacterial film; wound dressing; biomedical application.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNT.2024.146457

International Journal of Nanotechnology, 2024 Vol.21 No.7/8/9/10/11/12, pp.536 - 550

Published online: 30 May 2025 *

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