'Middle East Technical University, Faculty of Architecture'
Abstract
Nanocomposites of chitosan and silver nanowires (Ag NWs) were fabricated and their mechanical, thermal, electrical and antibacterial properties were investigated. A simple solvent casting method was used for the fabrication of nanocomposites with different Ag NW loadings ranging from 1 wt.% to 40 wt.%. Nanowires showed excellent dispersion in chitosan matrix. Antibacterial properties of the Ag NW/ chitosan nanocomposites were investigated against different bacteria strains of American type culture Collection (ATCC) using conventional microbiological methods. Prepared nanocomposites were found to have high antibacterial affect against Staphylococcus aureus, (ATCC #25923), Escherichia coli (ATCC#25922), Bacillus cereus (ATCC#14603) and Candida albicans (ATCC #90028) strains. Following the demonstration of antibacterial activity, fabricated nanocomposites were used as in-vitro electrocardiogram (ECG) electrodes. ECG measurement results showed that higher nanowire loadings within the nanocomposites have better performance in terms of recording useful ECG signals. Results presented herein showed that the Ag NW/ chitosan nanocomposites have a very high potential to be used as dry electrodes for ECG and offers simple and easy fabrication.Thesis (M.S.) -- Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences. Micro and Nanotechnology
