Kegere James

Abstract

Given the current Challenges faced by the increasing rate of drug resistant bacteria, a lot of attention has been shifted from synthetic antibiotic products to natural products that are eco friendly and have a wide spectrum of activity when exposed to pathogens. The main objective of this research was to successfully fabricate electrospun nanofibers from polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl alcohol blended with Chitosan, Bidens pilosa (Both distilled and crude extract) composite blends and invesitigate their potential antibacterial activities agains E. coli and S. aureus. Fabrication of nanofibers was performed by the electrospinner technique which applies high voltage on the polymer forcing it to spinnoff as a spray onto a collector. Characterization of the nanofibers was successfully performed by Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier Transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy technique. To study anti bacterial effect, E.coli and S. aureus were cultured in Luria Broth liquid media for 24 hrs at 37 °C after which nanofibers from different composite blends were exposed to the bacteria in three well plate. Hourly measurements of optical density using a spectophotometer were carried out. Results obtained show enhanced antibacterial activity of composite nanofibers obtained from combinations containing either crude extract or Chitosan. Whereas Chitosan nanofibers are already well researched and its anti microbial property vastly known, Bidens pilosa although known to possess biomedical properties, its anti bacterial properties in nanofiber form have not been reported in literature.

Department

Nanotechnology Program

Degree Name

MS in Nanotechnology

Graduation Date

6-1-2016

Submission Date

May 2016

First Advisor

Mamdouh, Wael

Committee Member 1

El Sayed, Mayyada, Medhat Al Ghobashy

Extent

116 p.

Document Type

Master's Thesis

Rights

The author retains all rights with regard to copyright. The author certifies that written permission from the owner(s) of third-party copyrighted matter included in the thesis, dissertation, paper, or record of study has been obtained. The author further certifies that IRB approval has been obtained for this thesis, or that IRB approval is not necessary for this thesis. Insofar as this thesis, dissertation, paper, or record of study is an educational record as defined in the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 USC 1232g), the author has granted consent to disclosure of it to anyone who requests a copy.

Institutional Review Board (IRB) Approval

Approval has been obtained for this item

Comments

African Graduate Fellowship AUC.

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