Functional antimicrobial coatings for application on microbiologically contaminated surfaces

ABSTRACT

Increases in diseases caused by pathogenic microorganisms and their growing resistances to antibiotics rise the need for the development of new antimicrobial materials. Silver nanoparticles exhibit high levels of antimicrobial activity. Compositions based on poly (vinyl alcohol) with different nanosilver contents were obtained and analysed. Materials differed in both the content of functional substances and their preparation parameters Research techniques, including spectrophotometry (UV-Vis) dynamic light scattering (DLS), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and transmission electron microscopy with an energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometer (TEM-EDX), were applied. The rheological properties of the compositions were tested. They may qualify as non-Newtonian, pseudoplastic fluids. Analyses of the forces needed to tear the adhesives were used to assess the adhesion properties. The antimicrobial properties against an Aspergillus niger strain are discussed. Concerning the bioavailability, the results revealed that, when the composition contacted amodel dermal membrane, the nanoparticles were unable to penetrate it.

KEYWORDS:

• Nanosilver
• PVA
• coatings
• antimicrobial effect

Highlights

• PVA-based compositions with added silver nanoparticles were prepared.

• The influences of functional agents were examined.

• The antimicrobial properties of the prepared compositions were tested.

• Rheological tests revealed non-Newtonian, pseudoplastic properties of the compositions.

Acknowledgments

This work is the result of the research project No. UMO-2016/23/D/ST8/00016 funded by the National Science Centre.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The work was supported by the National Science Centre, Poland, under research project no. UMO-2016/23/D/ST8/00016.