Preparation and Characterisations of Acrylic Epoxy/Polyethylene Glycol/Graphene Oxide Nanocomposites for Antibacterial Coating Applications

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This study addresses the urgent need for antibacterial coatings amid escalating concerns about pathogen contamination on various surfaces, particularly in healthcare settings and public spaces where infection control is critical. The development of durable and effective antibacterial coatings could significantly reduce harmful bacteria transmission and improve overall hygiene standards. Graphene oxide (GO) had exceptional antibacterial properties against a wide spectrum of bacteria. Here, the researchers explored the composite of GO with acrylic epoxy (AE) through the use of polyethylene glycol (PEG) to become AE/PEG/GO tertiary nanocomposites in enhancing GO’s antibacterial efficacy. The objectives of this study were to prepare and characterise AE/PEG/GO nanocomposites and then investigate their antibacterial abilities against escherichia coli (E. coli) and staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) bacteria. The GO was prepared using the modified Hummers method, which was mechanically stirred with AE and PEG to produce the AE/PEG/GO nanocomposites. This was followed by characterisations of the nanocomposites via ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectrophotometer, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The nanocomposites were then tested against E. coli and S. aureus bacteria by measuring the diameter of the inhibition zone (DIZ). The results showed that the absorption peak of GO was obtained at a wavelength of 236 nm. The diffraction pattern of the AE/PEG/GO nanocomposites showed amorphous structure with a small and wide peak at 2 around 23°. The IR spectrum of the AE/PEG/GO nanocomposites indicated the presence of –OH, –CH3, –CH2, C=O, C–H, C–O and C=C functional groups. The surface morphology showed well-distributed nanocomposite coating onto glass slides with some micro islands. The nanocomposites exhibited promising antibacterial performance revealing higher efficacy against S. aureus compared to E. coli. This was shown by the performance of AE/PEG/GO coating in inhibiting S. aureus bacteria with 1.55 mm larger DIZ compared to the positive control. However, the AE/PEG/GO coating exhibited smaller DIZ than the positive control with a difference of 3.68 mm in inhibiting E. coli bacteria. This study unveiled a simple and straightforward approach in producing nanocomposites for antibacterial coatings shedding light on their potential applications in safeguarding surfaces against bacterial contamination.