Investigation of Functionalized Surface Charges of Thermoplastic Starch/Zinc Oxide Nanocomposite Films Using Polyaniline: The Potential of Improved Antibacterial Properties.

Korakot Charoensri,Jung A Ko,Jin Suk Chung,Chatchai Rodwihok,Duangmanee Wongratanaphisan,Hyun Jin Park

doi:10.3390/polym13030425

Abstract

Improving the antibacterial activity of biodegradable materials is crucial for combatting widespread drug-resistant bacteria and plastic pollutants. In this work, we studied polyaniline (PANI)-functionalized zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) to improve surface charges. A PANI-functionalized ZnO NP surface was prepared using a simple impregnation technique. The PANI functionalization of ZnO successfully increased the positive surface charge of the ZnO NPs. In addition, PANI-functionalized ZnO improved mechanical properties and thermal stability. Besides those properties, the water permeability of the bionanocomposite films was decreased due to their increased hydrophobicity. PANI-functionalized ZnO NPs were applied to thermoplastic starch (TPS) films for physical properties and antibacterial studies using Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). The PANI-functionalized ZnO bionanocomposite films exhibited excellent antibacterial activity for both E. coli (76%) and S. aureus (72%). This result suggests that PANI-functionalized ZnO NPs can improve the antibacterial activity of TPS-based bionanocomposite films.

Highlights

There has been growing concern regarding the threat of microorganism contamination
These results indicate that the PANI molecules were successfully functionalized on the
The PANI content increased the positive surface charges of the zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs), which were applied to a biopolymer film to improve antibacterial activity

Summary

Introduction

There has been growing concern regarding the threat of microorganism contamination. Some bacteria have developed resistance to widely used antibacterial agents [1,2]. Environmental problems related to plastic pollution are consequential issues that are mainly attributed to the use of single-use plastic products [3,4]. Many researchers have attempted to improve the efficiency of antimicrobial agents in various applications. The main function of packaging is to protect products from contamination. The improvement of antibacterial agents for packaging applications is an attractive topic [5,6]. Many researchers have focused on the development of metal/metal oxide nanocomposite-assisted packaging polymers (e.g., silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs), silver oxide (AgO), copper oxide (CuO), and zinc oxide (ZnO)) for active packaging applications to provide enhanced physicochemical and antibacterial properties [7,8]

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