Synthesis and Characterization of BSA capped Silver Nanoparticles Encapsulated in PHBV

Undergraduate #164
Discipline: Chemistry and Chemical Sciences
Subcategory: Chemistry (not Biochemistry)

Adore Bagasao - Howard University
Co-Author(s): Sade Ateyobi, Kaila Holloward, and Dharmaraj Raghavan, Howard University, Washington, DC

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Bacterial infection of orthopedic implant services has been a major concern in joint replacement methods. A significant portion of implants are invaded by bacteria (eg. S. aureus, S. epidermis, E. coli, and P. aeruginosa) which can hinder bone tissue growth. An approach recently sought to address the bacterial infection of implants is to encapsulate nanoparticles of silver based compounds/ Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) in poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) matrix. The rationale for selection of silver nanoparticles is to promote an aseptic environment in the vicinity of infection while maintaining viable growth of bone cells. We used oil immersion method, with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as a surfactant, to encapsulate silver based compounds/ Bovine Serum Albumin of Ag/BSA in PHBV. Nanoparticles of silver based compounds/BSA before and after encapsulation were characterized using UV-Visible (UV-Vis) Spectroscopy, Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), and Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS). Additionally, Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) characterization of nanoparticles will be performed to obtain morphological information. Preliminary results of UV-Vis, DLS, and AAS on BSA capped silver nanoparticles exhibit the highest absorption peak at a range of ~407 nm to ~414 nm, a nanoparticle size in a range of ~5 nm to ~16 nm, and a silver content concentration of ~4.2 ppm to ~11 ppm respectively. Further studies are underway to encapsulate these nanoparticles and study desorption.

Funder Acknowledgement(s): NSF:HRD -1503192

Faculty Advisor: Dharmaraj Raghavan, draghavan@howard.edu

Role: As an undergraduate research assistant, my role is to synthesize the silver based compounds/BSA composites and characterize them using UV-Vis, DLS, and AAS. I also have the responsibility of encapsulating the composite in PHBV. I characterize the BSA capped silver nanoparticles in PHBV using UV-Vis, DLS, AAS, TEM, and SEM.