Research Information System
Thesis Type: Postgraduate
Institution Of The Thesis: Middle East Technical University, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Turkey
Approval Date: 2016
Thesis Language: English
Student: CEREN PERK
Principal Supervisor (For Co-Supervisor Theses): Yeşim Soyer
Co-Supervisor: Hüsnü Emrah Ünalan
Abstract:The use of silver nanowires (Ag NWs), newly developed nanomaterials, have been demonstrated in prototypes devices such as solar cells, touch screens and light emitting diodes. Although silver nanoparticles have been used as an antimicrobial agent due to their disrupting effect on proliferation of microorganisms, testing Ag NWs in this field is the virgin side of the food packaging design. In this study antimicrobial effect of Ag NWs embedded in filter paper (FP) and polylactic acid (PLA) were investigated. The aim of this study was to determine the antimicrobial effects of silver nanowires using Disk Diffusion method (DD), Viable Bacteria Count (VBC) and modified version of ISO Plastic-Measurement of antibacterial activity on plastic surfaces on both gram negative and gram positive bacteria. By disk diffusion method (DD), we observed 8-11 mm clear zone on gram negative, 8-14 mm on gram positive bacteria using Ag NWs embedded in FP. On the other hand, no clear zone formation was observed for Ag NWs embedded in PLA and no antimicrobial growth underneath. Results obtained herein gave a clear understanding of the antimicrobial effect of Ag NWs, contact packaging material that can be used in food industry. Ag NWs are highly promising to be used in packaging applications with no direct contact with food.