Anti-microbial and catalytic properties of 3D-Printed PLA-coated Ag Nanoparticles

Nicholas was given the opportunity to participate in the NSF REU for Nanotechnology at Stony Brook University (SBU), working under Dr. Gary Halada in the Materials Science Department. While there I created poly-lactic acid (PLA) structures through additive manufacturing (3-D printing) and synthesized silver nanoparticles on the surface to alter the surface chemistry of the polymer to provide antimicrobial properties while reducing toxicity to the surrounding cells. I then characterized these modified structures using spectroscopy to determine chemical make-up and size, cyclic voltammetry to determine if this material exhibits any catalytic properties. The results for this project were overwhelmingly positive, as we were able to prove that coated silver nanoparticles can be sustained in a catalytic environment for much longer periods of time than other metal or anti-microbial surfaces.