Study on the Structure, Thermal Properties and Antibacterial Properties of Phosphorus-Modified PVA/TiO2 Composite Films
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Phosphorus-modified poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) has recently gained increasing attention as a functional polymeric matrix suitable for gel-based systems, owing to its biocompatibility, film-forming ability, and capacity to develop semi-interpenetrating networks. In this work, PVA was chemically modified through the nucleophilic substitution of its hydroxyl groups with the chloride groups of phenyl dichlorophosphate, following a literature-reported method carried out in N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) as reaction medium, resulting in phosphorus-containing PVA networks (PVA-OP3). Hybrid gel-like films were then prepared by incorporating titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs), known for their antimicrobial activity, low toxicity, and high stability. The resulting composites were structurally, morphologically, and thermally characterized using FTIR, SEM, and thermogravimetric analysis. The incorporation of TiO2 NPs significantly improved the thermal stability, with T5% increasing from 240 °C for neat PVA-OP3 to 288 °C for the optimal composite, increased the char residue from 4.5% for the neat polymer to 30.1% for PVA-OP3/TiO2-4, and enhanced antimicrobial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. These findings demonstrate that PVA-OP3/TiO2 hybrid films possess promising potential as advanced biomaterials for biomedical, protective, and environmental applications.
Source: Gels
DOI: 10.3390/gels11121020
Language: English
Subfield: Biomaterials
Field: Materials Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,534
OpenAlex ID: W4417466469