Dual-mechanism antimicrobial polymer-ZnO nanoparticle and crystal violet-encapsulated silicone

Sacha Noimark, Jonathan Weiner, Nuruzzaman Noor, Elaine Allan, Charlotte K. Williams, Milo S.P. Shaffer, Ivan P. Parkin

Research output: Journal article publicationJournal articleAcademic researchpeer-review

101 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Published by Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA. The prevalence of healthcare-associated infection caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria is of critical concern worldwide. It is reported on the development of a bactericidal surface prepared by use of a simple, upscalable, two-step dipping strategy to incorporate crystal violet and di(octyl)-phosphinic- acid-capped zinc oxide nanoparticles into medical grade silicone, as a strategy to reduce the risk of infection. The material is characterized by UV-vis absorbance spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and confirmed the incorporation of the ZnO nanoparticles in the polymer. The novel system proves to be a highly versatile bactericidal material when tested against both Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, key causative micro-organisms for hospital-acquired infection (HAI). Potent antimicrobial activity is noted under dark conditions, with a significant enhancement exhibits when the surfaces are illuminated with a standard hospital light source. This polymer has the potential to decrease the risk of HAI, by killing bacteria in contact with the surface.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1367-1373
Number of pages7
JournalAdvanced Functional Materials
Volume25
Issue number9
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 4 Mar 2015
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Antimicrobial surfaces
  • Infection-prevention
  • Photodynamic therapy
  • Zinc oxide nanoparticles

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Biomaterials
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Electrochemistry

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