Antibacterial and swelling properties of N-isopropyl acrylamide grafted and collagen/chitosan-immobilized polypropylene nonwoven fabrics.

The different molar ratios of collagen/chitosan were used to be immobilized on polypropylene nonwoven fabrics grafted with N-isopropyl acrylamide (abbr. PP-g-NIPAAm-i-Col/Chi). For a controlled immobilizing time and NIPAAm concentration, the collagen/chitosan immobilized values and the antibacterial properties of PP-g-NIPAAm-i-Col/Chi increased with increasing amount of chitosan in the mixture of collagen/chitosan. The crosslinking reaction between the grafted polyNIPAAm and collagen/chitosan molecules was clearly confirmed by the examination of the spectra of the surface reflection infrared spectroscopy (IR). The values of water absorption and water diffusion coefficient of PP-g-NIPAAm-i-Col/Chi decreased with increase of the chitosan in the mixture of collagen/chitosan and the value of immobilized collagen/chitosan at the same pH value of buffering water. The PP-g-NIPAAm-i-Col/Chi have excellent water absorption, water permeability, and antibacterial properties and would be suitable for the healing of wounded skin area.