Glass-(nAg, nCu) biocide coatings on ceramic oxide substrates.

Leticia Esteban-Tejeda,Luis Antonio Díaz,Francisco Malpartida,José Serafín Moya,Fernando Rojo,Ramón Torrecillas

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0033135

Abstract

The present work was focused on obtaining biocide coatings constituted by a glassy soda-lime matrix containing silver or copper nanoparticles on ceramic (alumina and zirconia based) substrates. Both glassy coatings showed a high biocide activity against Gram−, Gram+ bacteria and yeast, reducing cell numbers more than three logarithms. Silver nanoparticles had a significantly higher biocide activity than copper nanoparticles, since the lixiviation levels required to reduce cell numbers more than 3 logarithms was of almost 1–2 µg/cm2 in the case of silver nanoparticles, and 10–15 µg/cm2 for the copper nanoparticles.

Highlights

The problem of biofouling or biocontamination is a great concern in a wide range of applications such as surgical equipment and protective apparels in hospitals, medical implants, water purification systems, industrial and marine equipment, oil rigs biosensors, food packaging, food storages or textiles
More than 18 chemicals are used as antifouling agents throughout the world but only nine of them are approved for use by Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in the United Kingdom [4,5,6,7]
This sepiolitenCu was fully characterized by X-Ray diffraction (XRD), ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopy (UV-VIS spectroscopy) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) in a previous work [24] and iii) vitellinate/nAg (Batch nu 127, ARGENOL S.L.), which is a protein of high molecular weight with a particle size distribution of d50

Summary

Introduction

The problem of biofouling or biocontamination is a great concern in a wide range of applications such as surgical equipment and protective apparels in hospitals, medical implants, water purification systems, industrial and marine equipment, oil rigs biosensors, food packaging, food storages or textiles. In this sense, there is a need of effective and non toxic antifouling coatings to prevent the settlement and growth of microorganisms, which are associated to infections, serious complications in hospitals, food industries and community settings [1], [2]. More than 18 chemicals are used as antifouling agents throughout the world but only nine of them are approved for use by Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in the United Kingdom [4,5,6,7]

Methods

Results

Conclusion