Antimicrobial Functionalization of Textile Materials with Copper Silicate

Abstract

A biofunctionalization of nonwoven fabrics was carried out with 0.1-4 wt.% of copper silicate. Polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE) and biodegradable polymers [poly(lactic acid) (PLA), polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA)] or their mixtures were used as polymer components. Mostly liquid oligomers of ethylene glycol (PEG) or copolymers of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide (2.5-5 wt.%) were applied as plasticizers. New composite nonwovens containing CuSiO 3 were prepared by the melt-blown technique [1]. They showed very good antibacterial and antifungal properties against colonies of gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli), gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus) and a yeast fungus (Candida albicans). Nonwovens containing ≥ 0.5 wt.% of CuSiO 3 can be used, e.g. as hygienic and bioactive filter materials in airconditioning systems. The application of PLA and PHA affects the ability of these hybrid nonwovens to biologically decompose. DSC analysis indicated that the incorporation of additives in PLA and PP nonwovens significantly affected their melting and crystallization processes.

Deposition of Copper on Poly(Lactide) Non-Woven Fabrics by Magnetron Sputtering—Fabrication of New Multi-Functional, Antimicrobial Composite Materials

“…Substantial importance in this field is played by PLA composites equipped with antibacterial additivities, in the majority organic bactericides (e.g., ampicillin [ 9 ] chlorhexidine [ 10 , 11 ], ciprofloxacin [ 12 , 13 ], doxycyclin [ 14 ], gentamycin [ 15 ], oflaxin and vancomycin [ 16 ], triclosan [ 17 , 18 , 19 ], and/or curcumin [ 20 ], etc.). Due to an established role of metal nanoparticles in medicine [ 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 ], the group of increasing importance is PLA-inorganic hybrids [ 34 ], due to their high antibacterial efficiency, simplicity and also low cost of technological preparation.…”

PLA and PP Composite Nonwoven with Antimicrobial Activity for Filtration Applications

“…Previous research works with pure PP and pure PLA nonwovens functionalized with CuO⋅SiO 2 revealed that 0.1% and 0.25% CuO⋅SiO 2 content did not provide sufficient antimicrobial activity, especially towards Candida albicans [17]. In that case the use of at least 0.5% of this additive was needed.…”

Biofunctionalization of Textile Materials. 2. Antimicrobial Modification of Poly(lactide) (PLA) Nonwoven Fabricsby Fosfomycin

“…As part of our research program directed on biologically active functionalized phosphonates [59][60][61][62][63], and their grafting on polymer matrix [64,65], we present the preparation, and physico-chemical and biological properties of PLA-FOS polymer hybrid.…”