ABSTRACT
To improve the hydrophilicity and imparting antibacterial properties to poly(lactic acid), poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) and silver particles (AgNPs) were simultaneously introduced onto the surface of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) films by γ-ray irradiation. The morphology and structure of the modified films were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM)/energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectrometry and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The interaction between PAA and AgNPs was investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), confirming the coordination between AgNPs and the oxygen atom on the carboxylic group of PAA. The contact-angle (CA) measurements and antibacterial tests showed that the modified PLA films with a low silver content (PLA-g-PAA-Ag) exhibited excellent hydrophilicity as well as antibacterial activity compared with the neat PLA film.
