Polymeric Materials with Antibacterial Activity

A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Polymer Applications".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2020) | Viewed by 35081

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Guest Editor
Department of Materials Science and Engineering and Chemical Engineering, Instituto de Química y Materiales Álvaro Alonso Barba (IQMAA), Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Leganés, 28911 Madrid, Spain
Interests: design, preparation, and characterization of polymer-based multifunctional materials with (i) special electrical properties and (ii) antibacterial activity; characterization of polymers and composite materials; use of fluorescent probes and labels to monitor physico-chemical changes at a molecular scale; atomic force microscopy: nanothermodeformation (linear coefficients of thermal expansion of polymer thin films), nanopiezodeformación; FTIR (middle and near range): structural, dynamics, and aging phenomena studies; solution blow spinning
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

There has been a growing increase in the use of plastics in sectors such as the medicine and food industries. In the first case, the use of these polymers is focused on final applications like (i) devices or tools (catheters, packaging, drug dispensers, etc.) and (ii) materials for tissue regeneration or tissue engineering, for instance. In the case of the food industry, we are mainly talking about containers or thin films for food packaging. Obviously, the materials used in all these applications, besides being easily processable, should present the required properties for their final use such as bicompatibility and adecuate mechanical properties. However, researching in this field has become more activily focused on minimizing or canceling the growth of harmful bacteria that may be pathogens or bacteria that cause material degradation. For all these reasons, the necessity of designing new polymer-based materials that include antibacterial actions to finally achieve the most appropriate performance for the herein-considered applications is evident. There are several strategies to overcome this challenge: (i) the systhesis of new polymers or copolymers having especial functional groups with potential antibacterial action; (ii) the systhesis of polymer-based materials whose surfaces have special physico-chemical properties avoiding bacterial adhesion; (iii) the use of new processing methods to prepare materials with tailored topographies (controlled roughness for instance); (iv) the addition of active agents to polymers (synthetic or natural) with biocide actions (antibiotics and others); and (v) the addition to polymers of nanoparticles (coated or uncoated) such us Cu, Ag, TiO2, etc., with potential antibacterial action.

The aim of this Special Issue is to show the most recent advances on the design, synthesis, processing, characterization, properties, and performance of polymer-based materials with antibacterial actions.

Prof. Javier González-Benito
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • Polymers
  • Nanocomposites
  • Antibacterial activity
  • Synthesis
  • Characterization
  • Biomedicine
  • Food packaging

Published Papers (10 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 4513 KiB  
Article
Starch-Capped Silver Nanoparticles Impregnated into Propylamine-Substituted PVA Films with Improved Antibacterial and Mechanical Properties for Wound-Bandage Applications
by Mudassir Iqbal, Hadia Zafar, Azhar Mahmood, Muhammad Bilal Khan Niazi and Muhammad Waqar Aslam
Polymers 2020, 12(9), 2112; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12092112 - 17 Sep 2020
Cited by 20 | Viewed by 4015
Abstract
This research endeavor aims to develop polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) based films capable of blends with silver nanoparticles (Ag–NPs) for improved antibacterial properties and good mechanical strength to widen its scope in the field of wound dressing and bandages. This study reports synthesis of [...] Read more.
This research endeavor aims to develop polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) based films capable of blends with silver nanoparticles (Ag–NPs) for improved antibacterial properties and good mechanical strength to widen its scope in the field of wound dressing and bandages. This study reports synthesis of propylamine-substituted PVA (PA–PVA), Ag–NPs via chemical and green methods (starch capping) and their blended films in various proportions. Employment of starch-capped Ag–NPs as nanofillers into PVA films has substantially improved the above-mentioned properties in the ensuing nanocomposites. Synthesis of PA–PVA, starch-capped Ag–NPs and blended films were well corroborated with UV/Vis spectroscopy, FTIR, NMR, XRD and SEM analysis. Synthesized Ag–NPs were of particle shape and have an average size 20 nm and 40 nm via green and chemical synthesis, respectively. The successful blending of Ag–NPs was yielded up to five weight per weight into PA–PVA film as beyond this self-agglomeration of Ag–NPs was observed. Antibacterial assay has shown good antimicrobial activities by five weight per weight Ag–NPs(G)-encapsulated into PA–PVA blended film, i.e., 13 mm zone inhibition against Escherichia coli and 11 mm zone inhibition against Staphylococcus aureus. Physical strength was measured in the terms of young’s modulus via tensile stress–strain curves of blended films. The five weight per weight Ag–NPs(G)/PA–PVA blend film showed maximum tensile strength 168.2 MPa while three weight per weight Ag–NPs(G)/PVA blend film showed highest values for ultimate strain 297.0%. Ag–NPs embedment into PA–PVA was resulted in strong and ductile film blend than pristine PA–PVA film due to an increase in hydrogen bonding. These good results of five weight per weight Ag–NPs(G)/PA–PVA product make it a potent candidate for wound dressing application in physically active body areas. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymeric Materials with Antibacterial Activity)
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10 pages, 2359 KiB  
Article
Enhanced Antibiofilm Effects of N2 Plasma-Treated Buffer Combined with Antimicrobial Hexapeptides Against Plant Pathogens
by Bohyun Kim, Hyemi Seo, Jin Hyung Lee, Sunghyun Kim, Won Il Choi, Daekyung Sung and Eunpyo Moon
Polymers 2020, 12(9), 1992; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12091992 - 1 Sep 2020
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2021
Abstract
Suppression of pathogenic bacterial growth to increase food and agricultural productivity is important. We previously developed novel hexapeptides (KCM12 and KCM21) with antimicrobial activities against various phytopathogenic bacteria and N2 plasma-treated buffer (NPB) as an alternative method for bacterial inactivation and as [...] Read more.
Suppression of pathogenic bacterial growth to increase food and agricultural productivity is important. We previously developed novel hexapeptides (KCM12 and KCM21) with antimicrobial activities against various phytopathogenic bacteria and N2 plasma-treated buffer (NPB) as an alternative method for bacterial inactivation and as an antibiofilm agent of crops. Here, we developed an enhanced antibiofilm method based on antimicrobial hexapeptides with N2 plasma-treated buffer against plant pathogens. Our results demonstrated that hexapeptides effectively inhibited the growth of Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000 (Pst DC3000) and the biofilm it formed. Potent biofilm formation-inhibiting effects of hexapeptides were observed at concentrations of above 20 µM, and samples treated with hexapeptide above 100 µM reduced the ability of the bacteria to produce biofilm by 80%. 3D confocal laser scanning microscopy imaging data revealed that the antimicrobial activity of hexapeptides was enough to affect the cells embedded inside the biofilm. Finally, combination treatment with NPB and antimicrobial hexapeptides increased the antibiofilm effect compared with the effect of single processing against multilayered plant pathogen biofilms. These findings show that the combination of hexapeptides and NPB can be potentially applied for improving crop production. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymeric Materials with Antibacterial Activity)
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14 pages, 6972 KiB  
Article
LLDPE Composites with Nanosized Copper and Copper Oxides for Water Disinfection
by Yanna Gurianov, Faina Nakonechny, Yael Albo and Marina Nisnevitch
Polymers 2020, 12(8), 1713; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12081713 - 30 Jul 2020
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2556
Abstract
Consumption of contaminated water may lead to dangerous and even fatal water-borne diseases. Disinfection of drinking water is the most effective solution for this problem. The most common water treatment methods are based on the use of toxic disinfectants. Composites of polymers with [...] Read more.
Consumption of contaminated water may lead to dangerous and even fatal water-borne diseases. Disinfection of drinking water is the most effective solution for this problem. The most common water treatment methods are based on the use of toxic disinfectants. Composites of polymers with nanosized metals and their oxides may become a good alternative to the existing methods. Expanding the scope of our previous publication, copper, cuprous, and copper oxide nanoparticles were immobilized onto linear low-density polyethylene by a simple thermal adhesion method. The antibacterial efficiency of the immobilized nanoparticles was tested against Gram-negative Escherichia coli and Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus in batch experiments and for the first time the efficiency of these composites is reported for continuous flow regime. Immobilized copper and cuprous oxide nanoparticles demonstrated a high ability to eradicate bacteria after 30 min. These composites showed no or very limited leaching of copper ions into the aqueous phase both in the presence and in the absence of a bacterial suspension. Immobilized copper and cuprous oxide nanoparticles can be used for batch or continuous disinfection of water. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymeric Materials with Antibacterial Activity)
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10 pages, 1200 KiB  
Article
Antibacterial Activity of Biocellulose with Oregano Essential Oil against Cronobacter Strains
by Gulden Nagmetova, Anna Berthold-Pluta, Monika Garbowska, Askar Kurmanbayev and Lidia Stasiak-Różańska
Polymers 2020, 12(8), 1647; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12081647 - 24 Jul 2020
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 4118
Abstract
Biocellulose, named “the biomaterial of the future”, is a natural and ecologically friendly polymer, produced by selected acetic acid bacteria strains. Biocellulose impregnated with antimicrobial agents can be used as a novel, safe, and biodegradable food packaging material, helping extend the shelf life [...] Read more.
Biocellulose, named “the biomaterial of the future”, is a natural and ecologically friendly polymer, produced by selected acetic acid bacteria strains. Biocellulose impregnated with antimicrobial agents can be used as a novel, safe, and biodegradable food packaging material, helping extend the shelf life of some products and may also have the chance to replace typical plastic packaging, which is a big environmental problem these days. This study aimed to evaluate if cellulose impregned with natural oregano essential oil could show antibacterial activity against Cronobacter strains, which can occur in food, causing diseases and food poisoning. Bacterial cellulose was obtained from two acetic bacteria strains, Gluconacetobacter hansenii ATCC 23769 and Komagataeibacter sp. GH1. Antibacterial activity was studied by the disc-diffusion method against chosen Cronobacter strains, isolated from the plant matrix. Oregano essential oil has been shown to penetrate into the structure of bacterial cellulose, and after applying cellulose to the solid medium, it showed the ability to migrate. Biopolymer from the strain K. sp. GH1 was able to better absorb and retain essential oregano oil (OEO) compared to bacterial cellulose (BC) produced by the G. hansenii ATCC 23769. Bacterial cellulose with oregano essential oil from strain Komagataeibacter GH1 showed generally greater inhibitory properties for the growth of tested strains than its equivalent obtained from G. hansenii. This was probably due to the arrangement of the polymer fibers and its final thickness. The largest zone of inhibition of strain growth was observed in relation to C. condimenti s37 (32.75 mm ± 2.8). At the same time, the control sample using filter paper showed an inhibition zone of 36.0 mm ± 0.7. A similar inhibition zone (28.33 mm ± 2.6) was observed for the C. malonaticus lv31 strain, while the zone in the control sample was 27.1 mm ± 0.7. Based on this study, it was concluded that bacterial cellulose impregnated with oregano essential oil has strong and moderate antimicrobial activity against all presented strains of the genus Cronobacter isolated from plant matrix. Obtained results give a strong impulse to use this biopolymer as ecological food packaging in the near future. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymeric Materials with Antibacterial Activity)
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18 pages, 3849 KiB  
Article
Synthesis and Antimicrobial Activity of Metal-Containing Linseed Oil-Based Waterborne Urethane Oil Wood Coatings
by Kun-Tsung Lu and Jing-Ping Chang
Polymers 2020, 12(3), 663; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12030663 - 16 Mar 2020
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2535
Abstract
In this study, the antimicrobial agents of mono(hydroxyethoxyethyl)phthalate (M(HEEP)2) with different metal of M = Zn, Mn, Pb, and Ca were synthesized from diethylene glycol (DEG), phthalic anhydride (PA), and divalent metal acetates including calcium acetate, zinc acetate, manganese acetate, and [...] Read more.
In this study, the antimicrobial agents of mono(hydroxyethoxyethyl)phthalate (M(HEEP)2) with different metal of M = Zn, Mn, Pb, and Ca were synthesized from diethylene glycol (DEG), phthalic anhydride (PA), and divalent metal acetates including calcium acetate, zinc acetate, manganese acetate, and lead acetate, respectively. The waterborne urethane oil (WUO) dispersions synthesized from linseed oil, diisocyanates (hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) and isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI)), dimethylolpropionic acid at NCO/OH molars of 0.9, by acetone processing method were described as in our previous report. The M(HEEP)2 antimicrobial agents as well as the commercial nanosilver powder were added into WUO dispersions as the antimicrobial coatings. The effects of various antimicrobial agents and dosages (0.0, 0.2, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0, 2.0, and 4.0 phr) on antimicrobial activity of WUO films against gram-negative bacterium of Escherichia coli, gram-positive bacterium of Staphylococcus aureus, brown-rot fungus of Gloeophyllum trabeum, and white-rot fungus of Lenzites betulina were assessed. In addition, the film properties of the best antimicrobial WUO coatings were also examined. The results showed that the antimicrobial agents of mono(hydroxyethoxyethyl) phthalate M(HEEP)2 (M = Zn, Mn, Pb, and Ca) powders should certainly be synthesized by FTIR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) identifications and the yields of them were 43–55%. The results also revealed that the WUO film synthesizing with HDI films containing Zn(HEEP)2 of 2.0 phr and Pb(HEEP)2 of 0.4 phr had the best antibacterial activity for E. coli and S. aureus, respectively. The IPDI films containing Zn(HEEP)2 of 1.0 phr had the best antibacterial activity for both E. coli and S. aureus. For antifungal activity, the WUO film synthesizing with HDI films containing Pb(HEEP)2 of 0.8 phr and Zn(HEEP)2 of 2.0 phr as well as IPDI films containing Mn(HEEP)2 of 0.2 phr and Zn(HEEP)2 of 4.0 phr had the best performances against G. trabeum and L. betulina, respectively. Comparing with commercial nanoAg powder, the Zn(HEEP)2 and Pb(HEEP)2 had a superior antifungal efficiency for G. trabeum and L. betulina, while it had a slightly inferior efficiency in the antibacterial activity for E. coli and S. aureus. On the properties of WUO films, adding metal-containing antimicrobial agents could slightly enhance the thermal stability, but lowered the gloss of all films, however, the Tg value increased for HDI film and decreased for IPDI film. In addition to this, they had no significant difference in the film properties including hardness, impact resistance, bending resistance, adhesion, mass retention, and light-fastness between the WUO films with and without adding antimicrobial agents. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymeric Materials with Antibacterial Activity)
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11 pages, 3613 KiB  
Article
Angelica Essential Oil Loaded Electrospun Gelatin Nanofibers for Active Food Packaging Application
by Ying Zhou, Xiaomin Miao, Xingzi Lan, Junren Luo, Tingting Luo, Zhixin Zhong, Xifeng Gao, Zihui Mafang, Junjie Ji, Han Wang and Yadong Tang
Polymers 2020, 12(2), 299; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12020299 - 2 Feb 2020
Cited by 35 | Viewed by 4298
Abstract
The development of food packaging possessing bioactivities which could extend the shelf life of food has gained increased interest in recent years. In this study, gelatin nanofibers with encapsulated angelica essential oil (AEO) were fabricated via electrospinning. The morphology of gelatin/AEO nanofibers was [...] Read more.
The development of food packaging possessing bioactivities which could extend the shelf life of food has gained increased interest in recent years. In this study, gelatin nanofibers with encapsulated angelica essential oil (AEO) were fabricated via electrospinning. The morphology of gelatin/AEO nanofibers was examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the addition of AEO resulted in the increase of fiber diameter. The proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR) spectra were measured to confirm the presence of AEO in nanofibers. The hydrophobic property of gelatin nanofibers was also found to be improved with the addition of AEO. The nanofibers incorporated with AEO showed significant antioxidant activity and inhibitory effect against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria in a concentration dependent manner. Furthermore, the 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay demonstrated that the developed gelatin/AEO nanofibers revealed no cytotoxicity effect. Thus, gelatin nanofibers incorporated with AEO can be used as potential food packaging. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymeric Materials with Antibacterial Activity)
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11 pages, 2595 KiB  
Article
Improving Mildew Resistance of Soy Meal by Nano-Ag/TiO2, Zinc Pyrithione and 4-Cumylphenol
by Wenping Li, Mingsong Chen, Yanchen Li, Jingmeng Sun, Yi Liu and Hongwu Guo
Polymers 2020, 12(1), 169; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym12010169 - 9 Jan 2020
Cited by 25 | Viewed by 2717
Abstract
As a byproduct from the soybean oil industry, soy meal can be reproduced into value-added products to replace formaldehyde as a plywood adhesive. However, the use of soy meal has been limited by its poor antifungal and antiseptic properties. In this work, three [...] Read more.
As a byproduct from the soybean oil industry, soy meal can be reproduced into value-added products to replace formaldehyde as a plywood adhesive. However, the use of soy meal has been limited by its poor antifungal and antiseptic properties. In this work, three kinds of material, namely nano-Ag/TiO2, zinc pyrithione, and 4-cumylphenol were applied to enhance the mildew resistance of soy meal via breakdown of the cellular structure of mildew. The fungi and mold resistance, morphology, thermal properties, and mechanism of the modified soy meal were evaluated. The success of the antifungal and antiseptic properties was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy. The results indicated that all three kinds of material improved the fungi and mold resistance of soy meal, and sample B, which was modified with a compound of nano-Ag/TiO2 and zinc pyrithione, was the effective antifungal raw material for the soy-based adhesives. FTIR indicated that the great improvement of antifungal properties of soy meal modified with 4-cumylphenol might be caused by the reaction between COO– groups of soy protein. This research can help understand the effects of the chemical modification of nano-Ag/TiO2, zinc pyrithione, and 4-cumylphenol on soy meal, and the modified soy meal exhibits potential for utilization in the plywood adhesive industry. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymeric Materials with Antibacterial Activity)
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21 pages, 3061 KiB  
Article
Antibacterial Films Based on PVA and PVA–Chitosan Modified with Poly(Hexamethylene Guanidine)
by Ewa Olewnik-Kruszkowska, Magdalena Gierszewska, Ewelina Jakubowska, Iwona Tarach, Vladimir Sedlarik and Martina Pummerova
Polymers 2019, 11(12), 2093; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym11122093 - 13 Dec 2019
Cited by 68 | Viewed by 5573
Abstract
In this study, thin, polymeric films consisting of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and chitosan (Ch) with the addition of poly(hexamethylene guanidine) (PHMG) were successfully prepared. The obtained materials were analyzed to determine their physicochemical and biocidal properties. In order to confirm the structure of [...] Read more.
In this study, thin, polymeric films consisting of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and chitosan (Ch) with the addition of poly(hexamethylene guanidine) (PHMG) were successfully prepared. The obtained materials were analyzed to determine their physicochemical and biocidal properties. In order to confirm the structure of PHMG, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H NMR) was applied, while in the case of the obtained films, attenuated total reflectance infrared spectroscopy with Fourier transform (FTIR-ATR) was used. The surface morphology of the polymer films was evaluated based on atomic force microscopy. Furthermore, the mechanical properties, color changes, and thermal stability of the obtained materials were determined. Microbiological tests were performed to evaluate the biocidal properties of the new materials with and without the addition of PHMG. These analyses confirmed the biocidal potential of films modified by PHMG and allowed for comparisons of their physicochemical properties with the properties of native films. In summary, films consisting of PVA and PHMG displayed higher antimicrobial potentials against Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) bacteria in comparison to PVA:Ch-based films with the addition of PHMG. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymeric Materials with Antibacterial Activity)
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17 pages, 3752 KiB  
Article
New Antibacterial Silver(I) Coordination Polymers Based on a Flexible Ditopic Pyrazolyl-Type Ligand
by Aurel Tăbăcaru, Claudio Pettinari, Mariana Bușilă and Rodica Mihaela Dinică
Polymers 2019, 11(10), 1686; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym11101686 - 15 Oct 2019
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2746
Abstract
In the last two decades, a tremendous amount of attention has been directed towards the design of antibacterial silver(I)-based materials, including coordination polymers (CPs) built up with a great variety of oxygen and nitrogen-containing ligands. Herein, a family of six new silver(I)-based CPs, [...] Read more.
In the last two decades, a tremendous amount of attention has been directed towards the design of antibacterial silver(I)-based materials, including coordination polymers (CPs) built up with a great variety of oxygen and nitrogen-containing ligands. Herein, a family of six new silver(I)-based CPs, having the general stoechiometric formula [Ag(H2DMPMB)(X)] (X = NO3, 1; CF3CO2, 2; CF3SO3, 3; BF4, 4; ClO4, 5; and PF6, 6) and incorporating the flexible ditopic pyrazolyl-type ligand 4,4′-bis((3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)methyl)biphenyl (H2DMPMB), has been prepared by the chemical precipitation method involving the reaction of silver(I) salts with H2DMPMB in the 1:1 molar ratio, in alcohols, or acetonitrile at room temperature for two-hours. The new silver(I)-based polymeric materials were characterized by means of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), elemental analysis (EA), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), allowing for the proposition that their structures comprise one-dimensional chains, with the silver(I) ions mostly assuming a T-shapped stereochemistry completed by the exo-bidentate ligands and counter-anions. The obtained silver(I) CPs showed a remarkable light insensitivity and stability in the air, are insoluble in water and in most common organic solvents, and possess appreciable thermal stabilities spanning the range 250–350 °C. The antibacterial activity of the obtained silver(I) CPs was tested against the Gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) using the Tetrazolium/Formazan test (TTC), by measuring the bacterial viability at different time intervals. The complete reduction of both bacterial strains occurred after 24 h of exposure to all silver(I) CPs, the bacterial viability values for S. aureus reaching 8% for compounds 3, 5, and 6 after only two-hours. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymeric Materials with Antibacterial Activity)
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15 pages, 4481 KiB  
Article
Quantification Methods for Textile-Adhered Bacteria: Extraction, Colorimetric, and Microscopic Analysis
by Tahmineh Hemmatian and Jooyoun Kim
Polymers 2019, 11(10), 1666; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym11101666 - 12 Oct 2019
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3766
Abstract
Quantification of bacteria adhered on porous, multi-layered fibers is a challenging task. The goal of this study is to compare different assessment procedures on counting textile-adhered bacteria, and to guide relevant analytical techniques. Three different methods were compared in measuring the amount of [...] Read more.
Quantification of bacteria adhered on porous, multi-layered fibers is a challenging task. The goal of this study is to compare different assessment procedures on counting textile-adhered bacteria, and to guide relevant analytical techniques. Three different methods were compared in measuring the amount of Escherichia coli (E. coli) adhered to polymeric film and fibrous nonwovens. In the extraction method, the adhered bacteria were released with the assistance of surfactant/enzyme, where the measurement was rather reproducible. For colorimetric method, stained bacteria enabled direct visualization without needing to detach cells from the surface, yet the linearity of color absorbency to cell counts was limited. The microscopic analysis provided direct observation of bacterial distribution over the surface, but accurate quantification was not possible for porous, fibrous surfaces. This study intends to help choosing a suitable test method to accurately quantify the textile-adhered bacteria, as well as broadly impact the research on anti-bioadhesive surfaces. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymeric Materials with Antibacterial Activity)
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