ABSTRACT
This chapter concerns the evaluation of the biocompatibility and the bactericidal activity of composites made of polysulfone (PSU) modified by silver nanoparticles (PSU/Ag), obtained by extrusion and injection moulding. The antibacterial activity against the Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and the Gram-negative Escherichia coli was evaluated by means of the surface deposition method. With the use of the MTT and LDH tests, the degree of the composites’ cytotoxicity was specified in vitro on human cells: osteoblasts (HTB-85 cell line, ATCC) and fibroblasts (CRL7422 cell line, ATCC). By inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), it was possible to evaluate the amount of the released silver ions and to determine their impact on the environment surrounding the bacteria. The materials’ microstructure and the dispersion of the modifier phase were estimated with the use of electron scanning microscopy, with elemental analysis in micro-areas (SEM+EDS).
