Silver nanoparticles with vanadium oxide nanowires loaded into electrospun dressings for efficient healing of bacterium-infected wounds

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been widely recognised as effective antibacterial materials in textiles for enhancing wound healing. However, high loadings of AgNPs are toxic and expensive. Thus, it is ideal to prepare AgNPs in a favourable nanostructure for stable and effective conjugation with the textile carrier by selecting a reductant and stabiliser that contributes to the antibacterial effect. Here, silver nanoparticles/vanadium oxide nanowires (Ag/VOx NWs) were prepared via a one-step reduction strategy using vanadium oxide quantum dots (VOx QDs) as both the reductant and stabiliser. VOx QDs possess antibacterial properties, which aid in minimising the applied silver content while enhancing bactericidal performance. Silver can self-aggregate into nanoparticles as well as promote the formation of vanadium oxide nanowires (VOx NWs). Accordingly, the Ag/VOx NWs exhibited remarkable antibacterial effects against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). The nanowire structure of the Ag/VOx NWs was favourable for effective loading into a sodium alginate (SA) gel fabric to form a wound dressing. The effective loading of Ag/VOx NWs on SA was conducive to the complete dispersion of the bacteriostatic agent and enhanced the antibacterial activity of AgNPs. The wound dressing efficiently suppressed the growth of wound bacteria and promoted wound healing in vivo.