Enhances durability and antibacterial efficacy: Chitosan‑silver-octa ammonium polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane composite films

The new nanocomposite films of chitosan‑silver-octa ammonium polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (CS/Ag/OAPOSS) were fabricated to investigate their antibacterial and mechanical properties. The films were made by adding OAPOSS nanoparticles to the chitosan‑silver film, which were applied in four different concentrations (0.5, 1, 5, and 9 wt%). The structure and morphology of the new nanocomposite films were examined using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy-dispersive-X-ray (EDX) mapping analysis, and infrared spectroscopy (IR). The antibacterial properties of the new films were tested against two different pathogens, Escherichia coli (Gram-negative) and Staphylococcus aureus (Gram-positive). The study revealed that the novel CS/Ag/OAPOSS films exhibit promising antibacterial properties. Also, the tensile data shows that the presence of OAPOSS and Ag nanoparticles (NPs) affects the structural stability and mechanical properties of chitosan film. Moreover, the film with a higher weight percentage of OAPOSS nanoparticles exhibited higher antibacterial activity, regardless of the type of bacteria. Given the growing resistance of bacteria to antibiotic drugs, this information has immense relevance for researchers in the field of medicine and health.