Experimental and computational investigation of polylactic acid/silver‐NP nanocomposite with antimicrobial activity prepared by plasma in liquid

Abstract

Abstract In this study, an underwater impulse discharge initiated in an aqueous suspension of a polylactide acid between silver rods is applied to produce silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and create a polymer nanocomposite. The spectral and energy characteristics of the discharge are obtained. The composites are characterized by methods of scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. Investigation of the formation of the composite of polylactic acid (PLA) with AgNP has been performed using the molecular dynamics method. The PLA/AgNPs composite films were effective against Escherichia coli , Staphylococcus aureus , Bacillus subtilis , Candida albicans , and thus may find future application in the food packaging area.