High performance of polysulfone/graphene oxide-silver nanocomposites with excellent antibacterial capability for medical applications

[Display omitted] •Polysulfone/GO-Ag nanocomposites prepared via solution-blending process yielded antibacterial films for medical applications.•Analyses showed good dispersion and strong adhesion between GO-Ag nanohybrid and PSU matrix.•Nanocomposite films exhibited both thermal stability and higher mechanical properties than that of neat PSU counterpart.•Nanocomposite film exhibited high hydrophilicity and antibacterial propertie. Nanocomposite films of polysulfone (PSU) with different amounts (0.00–1.00 wt%) of a nanohybrid blend of graphene oxide (GO) and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) obtained by a solution-blending method showed good properties. Tensile tests revealed that the PSU/GO-Ag nanocomposite films prepared have higher Young’s modulus and tensile strength compared to the neat PSU films. The optimistic effects on the thermal stability, morphological structure as well as the hydrophilicity character of all the nanocomposite films was very clear furthermore, antibacterial testing results showed that the nanocomposite films prepared have a significant bactericidal capability, at very low GO-Ag loading (0.2 wt%), against both Gram negative (Escherichia coli) and Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) strains. The characteristics of these nanocomposites based on the various results obtained in this study would give them a strong impetus for their use in many areas, particularly in the medical field.