Discipline: Nanoscience
Subcategory: Nanoscience
Session: 1
Joshua Smith - Oakwood University
Co-Author(s): Dr. Kenneth LaiHing, Oakwood University, Huntsville, Alabama
New drugs are being developed to fight diseases and the delivery can determine the effectiveness in combating the disease or infection. Nanofiber technology is a potential mechanism to enhance drug delivery mechanisms in hopes to treat burn victims. Using fibers which have been made through the process of electrospinning, the aim is to make a degradable bandage that releases antibiotics to combat infections associated with burn wounds. Polymers such as chitosan, maltose, and sodium alginate are the most promising in producing nanofibers and are easy to electrospin. Collagen is being added as one of the polymers because of its aid in tissue engineering and the success of electrospinning nanofibers. The plan is to infuse manuka honey with some of our nanofibers because of its antimicrobial properties and broad spectrum. The hypothesis is that the various polymers used to make fibers will interact differently with silver sulfadiazine, an antibiotic used in inhibiting the growth of bacteria, and with the manuka honey. The method used to make nanofibers is electrospinning the dissolved solutions of the polymers. The fibers should then be produced on a collection sheet. Nanofibers have the potential to be used for wound dressing in the future.
Funder Acknowledgement(s): NSF, ALSAMP
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Kenneth LaiHing, Laihing@oakwood.edu
Role: I had to search different polymers that had the potential to produce nanofibers. Polymers were mixed into solutions and went through the process of eletrospinning. Fibers were then collected and a sheet and tested against bacteria.