Antibacterial Behavior Research Articles

Fabrication and characterization of novel, cost-effective graphitic carbon nitride/Fe coated textile nanocomposites for effective degradation of dyes and biohazards

Textile-based photocatalysts are the new materials that can be utilized as an effective sustainable solution for biochemical hazards. Hence, we aimed to develop a sustainable, cost-effective, and facile approach for the fabrication of photocatalytic fabric using graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) and ferric-based multifunctional nanocomposite. Bulk g-C3N4 was prepared from urea by heating it at 500 °C for 2 h. The structure of ball-milled g-C3N4 was engineered by doping with various amounts of iron (III) chloride hexahydrate solution (0.006 mol/L) and sintered at 90 °C for 24 h to prepare g-C3N4–nanosheets/α-Fe2O3 composites. These nanocomposites have potential avenues towards rational designing of g-C3N4 for improved photocatalytic, antibacterial, and antiviral behavior. The prepared nanocomposite was characterized for its surface morphology, chemical composition, crystal structure, catalytic, antibacterial, and antiviral behavior. The fabrication of ferric doped g-C3N4 nanocomposites was characterized by SEM, EDX, FTIR, and XRD analysis. The coated fabric nanocomposite was characterized for methylene blue dye degradation under visible light, antibacterial and antiviral behavior. The developed textile-based photocatalyst has been found with very good recyclability with photocatalytic degradation of dye up to 99.9 % when compared to conventional g-C3N4 powder-based photocatalyst.

Osteogenic and antibacterial properties of TiN-Ag coated Ti-6Al-4V bioimplants with polished and laser textured surface topography

In this study, polished and laser textured Ti6Al4V alloy bioimplant samples were coated with TiN and Ag using PVD technique and evaluated for the synergistic effects of osseointegration and antibacterial behaviour. The surface roughness parameters, surface wettability, XPS, XRD and SEM analysis of the modified surface were carried out. The level of osseointegration of the coated samples was evaluated through in-vitro osteoblast cell adhesion and fluorescent microscopy. The antibacterial property was evaluated through the degree of bacterial adhesion using S.aureus strain. The osseointegration and antibacterial properties are correlated with the physio-chemical characteristics of the coated samples. The results show that the negative skewness value for the case of textured surface is also associated with increased surface roughness in comparison with polished surface. TiN-Ag coated textured samples are hydrophilic in nature due to the increased surface roughness and the presence of metallic oxides with hydrophilic properties at the surface. Both the coated samples have exhibited improved cell adhesion and proliferation with the TiN-Ag coated textured samples showing slightly higher osteointegration together with preferential alignment of cells due to the phenomenon of contact guidance. With regard to antibacterial behaviour also, both the TiN-Ag coated polished and TiN-Ag coated textured samples demonstrated improved performance than its un-coated counterparts. The study revealed that TiN-Ag PVD coating on polished and laser textured Ti6Al4V implant samples is favourable for better osseointegration and antibacterial behaviour of the implants. Also, the laser textured-TiN-Ag PVD coated samples are superior over TiN-Ag coated polished samples with regard to their osseointegration and antibacterial performance.

Exploration on the Structural, Optical, Morphological and Magnetic Properties of Hematite Nanoparticles and Their Antibacterial Activity

Hematite (α-Fe2O3) nanoparticles have been prepared by the conventional chemical precipitation synthesis technique. The prepared samples were subjected to structural, morphological, optical, magnetic and antibacterial behaviours. The diffraction analysis implies that the measured crystallite size of α- Fe2O3 nanoparticles is found to be 39 nm. The UV-visible absorption spectroscopy exhibits a strong absorption around 560 nm which is characteristics of Fe2O3 nanoparticles and the calculated bandgap value is found to be 2.07 eV. The presence of iron oxide polymorphs can be demonstrated by displaying phonon modes in Raman spectroscopy. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) study is used to identify the existence of functional groups and chemical structure of the synthesised Fe2O3 nanoparticles. Magnetic analysis displays hysteretic behaviour at room temperature with saturation magnetization Ms = 0.0036 emu/gm, the remanent magnetization Mr = 0.000698 emu/gm, and coercivity Hc = –0.27 Oe, respectively. The antibacterial activities of these α-Fe2O3 nanoparticles were investigated on pathogenic bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, and E. coli by a zone of inhibition method.

Enhanced photocatalytic activity of tin oxide-doped molybdenum disulfide nanohybrids under visible light irradiation: Antibiotics elimination, heavy metal reduction and antibacterial behavior

Nano-heterojunction photocatalytic can operate removal of pollutants, which is basic for the sustainable development of a clean environment. Herein, we propose a novel MoS2/SnO2 (MS) S-scheme heterojunction by a facile hydrothermal process, which is cheap, easily available, highly visible-light response, and good stability. The MS nano-heterojunction suggested superior performance with the photocatalytic degradation of 97.6% within 100 min for ciprofloxacin (CIP) removal, which was 5.74 and 4.88 folds higher than that of pristine MoS2 and SnO2, respectively. The fabricated MS photocatalysts displayed outstanding photocatalytic efficiency toward Cr (VI) reduction. The removal capability of Cr (VI) reached up to 92.5% within 60 min. The photodegradation efficiency was 5.2 folds that of pristine MoS2. In addition, the antibacterial performance approximately approached 100% for E. coli within 10 min, which was more apparent than the others. A series of excellent results implied that MS nano-heterojunction had a high ultraviolet and visible light absorbance, larger specific surface area, outstanding electron-hole pairs migration and higher capability of photo-response electrons and holes separation rate. This system offers a novel window into the evolution of nano-heterojunction for wastewater treatment and solar energy harvesting applications.

Antibacterial and corrosion resistant ANPs-TaC nanocomposite coating for biomedical applications

To improve the antibacterial properties of metallic implants to hinder the colonization of bacteria on their surfaces, an Ag nanoparticle (ANPs)/TaC nanocomposite coating was synthesized on a titanium alloy substrate by a double cathode glow discharge approach. The nanocomposite coating was composed of AgNPs (~13 nm in diameter) embedded in a nanoscale TaC matrix, with a mean grain size of 8 nm. The nanocomposite coating exhibited a bilayer structure, composed of a compact inner layer and a cauliflower-like outer layer. The corrosion resistance of the nanocomposite coating in both a 0.9 wt% NaCl solution and Ringer's solution was studied in comparison with both uncoated Ti-6Al-4V (TC4) and an Ag-free TaC coating by using potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). These results showed that the incorporation of Ag nanoparticles slightly lowered the corrosion resistance of the TaC coating. The antibacterial activity of the ANPs-TaC nanocomposite coatings against Escherichia coli (E. coli), Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Salmonella Typhimurium (Salmonella) strains was examined based on the bacterial inhibitory zones and bacterial killing efficiency. The addition of ANPs markedly increased the antibacterial capacity of the TaC coating against all three types of microorganisms. Therefore, a unique combination of the electrochemically stable TaC phase, together with the antibacterial behavior of the ANPs, makes the ANPs-TaC nanocomposite coating an attractive choice in the design of next-generation biomedical implants.

Effect of hydrothermal processing duration on physical and antimicrobial properties of Mg0.2Zn0.5Mn0.3 Fe2O4 ferrite nanoparticles

Spinel ferrite nanoparticles (SFNPs) have high demand in the field of electronics and medical engineering. The properties of these spinel ferrites are greatly influenced by the synthesis techniques and their parameters. The spinel ferrite nanoparticles (SFNPs) of Mg0.2Zn0.5Mn0.3Fe2O4 were successfully prepared using hydrothermal route at 180 °C for 15, 20 and 25 hrs duration. The effect of processing duration on structural, magnetic and antibacterial behaviour were recorded by XRD, FTIR, TEM, EDS, VSM and Gouy’s balance. The cubic structural morphology with space group Fd-3m confirms spinel nature of prepared nanoparticles recorded by TEM and XRD. The multidomain superparamagnetic nature of synthesized nanoparticles were observed by magnetic parameters from smooth S shaped M-H curve of VSM. Antibacterial efficacy of SFNPs against different pathogenic bacteria were demonstrated using Zone of influence (ZOI).

Bioinks Functionalized with Natural Extracts for 3D Printing

In the search of materials valid for direct ink writing (DIW) 3D printing and with special interest for the biomedical and pharmaceutical applications, the development of bioactive inks for DIW is of great interest. For that purpose, in this work bioactive waterborne polyurethane–urea inks were prepared by addition of natural extracts (logwood, chestnut, and alder buckthorn) and cellulose nanofibers (CNF). The rheological behavior of the inks proved to be strongly dependent on the extract type and content, and the addition route used. Inks prepared by ex-situ incorporation of the extracts showed a strong gel-like behavior, as did inks prepared with chestnut and alder buckthorn extracts, which, in turn, hindered a continuous flow during the printing process, resulting in 3D printed parts with poor shape fidelity. On the other hand, inks prepared in-situ and with logwood extract showed more facility to flow and higher homogeneity, which translated in better printability and better shape fidelity, further enhanced for CNF containing inks. 3D printed composites showed reinforced mechanical behavior, as well as in materials with enhanced antibacterial behavior. Overall, the possibility to successfully prepare bioactive inks valid for 3D printing was proven.

Effect of Ta(Cu)–O composite film on mechanical properties, osteoblasts proliferation and antibacterial behavior of medical titanium alloy

Although titanium alloy (Ti–6Al–4V) has good mechanical and biological properties as a bone implant material, it still has defects of biologically inertness and poor antibacterial ability. In this study, a multi-target magnetron sputtering method was used to prepare Ta(Cu)–O composite films with three different ratios (Ta(Cu10.82)-O; Ta(Cu5.68)-O; Ta(Cu3.43)-O) on the surface of Ti–6Al–4V to solve the problems above. In vitro osteoblast proliferation experiments showed that the Ta(Cu)–O composite films significantly accelerated the proliferation, adhesion and spreading of osteoblasts, especially for Ta(Cu3.43)-O. And due to the excellent antibacterial activity of Cu, the Ta(Cu)–O composite films also showed good antibacterial effect. In conclusion, the results showed that the Ta(Cu)–O films can enhance the antibacterial properties of Ti–6Al–4V while accelerating the growth of osteoblasts, displaying great clinical potential in bone-implants applications.

Curcumin Loaded onto Folic acid Carbon dots as a Potent drug Delivery System for Antibacterial and Anticancer Applications

Numerous malignancies have been shown to be successfully treated with Curcumin. Despite its promising effects, Curcumin has limitations in clinical studies because of its stability, low water solubility, and adsorption. Carbon quantum dots with high biocompatibility can be employed as nanostructured material carriers to enhance Curcumin availability. In this study, folic acid was used as the raw material for the hydrothermal preparation of carbon dots, followed by the loading of Curcumin onto the carbon dots to form a folic acid carbon dot/Curcumin nanocomposite. The morphology and the chemical structure of the synthesized carbon dots were investigated. Folic acid carbon dots displayed robust emission peaks with a quantum yield of 41.8%. Moreover, the adsorption effectiveness of Curcumin on carbon dots was determined to be 83.11%. The liberating pattern of Curcumin was pH-dependent and reached 36 and 27% after a few hours at pH 5 and 7.4, respectively. The release occurs via the Fickiann diffusion mechanism with ah n value less than 0.45.The nanocomposite was tested for antibacterial activity against gram-negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27,853 and gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25,923. The nanocomposite displayed antibacterial behavior with MIC 12.5 µg/mL. The anticancer activities of the nanocomposite were further tested against high-folate receptor-expressing Hela cells (cervical malignancy) and low-folate receptor-expressing HepG2 cells (hepatocellular carcinoma). Folic acid carbon dot/Curcumin nanocomposite reduced Hela cell viability at an IC50 of 88.723 ± 0.534 g/mL. On the other hand, HepG2 cells showed no toxicity response.

Electrochemical, mechanical, and antibacterial properties of the AZ91 Mg alloy by hybrid and layered hydroxyapatite and tantalum oxide sol–gel coating

Abstract The corrosion and bacterial behavior of AZ91 magnesium alloy coated with sol–gel-deposited amorphous tantalum oxide and hydroxyapatite have been investigated. The objective was to assess the potential suitability of AZ91 for permanent prosthesis applications. The coatings were applied in layered and hybrid configurations and characterized using various techniques including X-ray diffractometry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive spectrometry, and drop analyses. The antibacterial properties were evaluated through interactions with Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli strains. Mechanical properties and adhesion were determined via linear scratch tests, and electrochemical corrosion tests were conducted in different media. The release of aluminum ions from the samples in Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle’s Medium was monitored over 28 days. The findings revealed that the amorphous tantalum oxide coating, particularly in combination with hydroxyapatite, improved antibacterial properties and positively influenced corrosion and scratch resistance. The layered and hybrid coatings demonstrated the highest corrosion resistance. The release of aluminum ions remained within acceptable levels in the tested medium. Overall, the study provides valuable insights into the potential of sol–gel coatings on AZ91 for prosthetic applications, considering antibacterial behavior, corrosion resistance, and aluminum release.

Green Synthesis of Antimicrobial Peptide-Protected Silver Nanoclusters with Regulated Antibacterial Behavior.

The antibacterial system based on the silver element has been a very promising antibacterial material. However, the antibacterial activity of silver nanomaterials largely depends on their chemical composition and physical properties. Herein, we prepared ultrasmall silver nanoclusters by directly reducing silver ions with antimicrobial peptide in a green way. The positively charged peptide ligands drove the silver nanoclusters binding to bacteria by electrostatic attraction. Contrary to the large-sized silver nanomaterials, the ultrasmall silver nanoclusters were able to rapidly penetrate bacteria membranes via strong hydrophobic association, significantly promoting the generation of reactive oxygen species, and the subsequent high oxidative stress led to bacterial death. Moreover, the silver nanoclusters with antibacterial peptide ligand exhibited good stability, low cytotoxicity, and long-term antibacterial activity. Besides, synergistic enhancement of silver nanoclusters on antibacterial activity was observed. Therefore, the silver nanoclusters conjugated with the antimicrobial peptide can act as a synergistic antibacterial agent, in which their bio-interactions with bacteria have been regulated to achieve a rapid, long-lasting, and broad-spectrum antibacterial effect.

Effect of Mg on structural, photoluminescence and antibacterial behaviours of ZnO nanoparticles

Effect of Mg on structural, photoluminescence and antibacterial behaviours of ZnO nanoparticles

Synthesis of cellulose graft cyclic anhydride and epoxide alternating copolyesters in a DBU/ DMSO/CO2 solvent system

A series of cellulose grafted alternating cyclic anhydride (CA) and epoxide (EPO) copolyesters (cell-g-P(CA-alt-EPO)) have been prepared in the novel DBU/DMSO/CO2 cellulose solvent system. The DBU acted both as a reagent for cellulose dissolution and as a catalyst for ring-opening copolymerization (ROCOP) of cellulose with EPO and CA. The structural features and thermal performances of cell-g-P(CA-alt-EPO) were characterized via MALDI-TOF, FT-IR NMR, TGA, DSC and XPS. Perfectly alternating sequence distributions and controlled molecular weights of a series of cell-g-P(CA-alt-EPO) were easily achieved by a variation of the CA or EPO. The cell-g-P(CA-alt-EPO) also had satisfactory UV-absorbing properties and cellulose grafted phthalic anhydride and glycidyltrimethylammonium chloride exhibited outstanding antibacterial behavior. Antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were 96.7% and 99.4% respectively. Thus, cell-g-P(CA-alt-EPO) with good solubility, melt processability, UV absorption and antibacterial properties have potential applications in UV-shielding and antibacterial agent fields.

Tuning of Silver Content on the Antibacterial and Biological Properties of Poly(ɛ-caprolactone)/Biphasic Calcium Phosphate 3D-Scaffolds for Bone Tissue Engineering.

There is a growing interest in tissue engineering, in which biomaterials play a pivotal role in promoting bone regeneration. Furthermore, smart functionalization can provide biomaterials with the additional role of preventing orthopedic infections. Due to the growing microbial resistance to antimicrobials used to treat those infections, metal ions, such as silver, thanks to their known wide range of bactericidal properties, are believed to be promising additives in developing antibacterial biomaterials. In this work, novel poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL)-based 3D scaffolds have been designed and developed, where the polymer matrix was modified with both silver (Ag), to supply antibacterial behavior, and calcium phosphates (biphasic calcium phosphate, BCP) particles to impart bioactive/bioresorbable properties. The microstructural analysis showed that constructs were characterized by square-shaped macropores, in line with the morphology and size of the templating salts used as pore formers. Degradation tests demonstrated the important role of calcium phosphates in improving PCL hydrophilicity, leading to a higher degradation degree for BCP/PCL composites compared to the neat polymer after 18 days of soaking. The appearance of an inhibition halo around the silver-functionalized PCL scaffolds for assayed microorganisms and a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in both adherent and planktonic bacteria demonstrate the Ag+ release from the 3D constructs. Furthermore, the PCL scaffolds enriched with the lowest silver percentages did not hamper the viability and proliferation of Saos-2 cells. A synergic combination of antimicrobial, osteoproliferative and biodegradable features provided to 3D scaffolds the required potential for bone tissue engineering, beside anti-microbial properties for reduction in prosthetic joints infections.

Cellular behavior and antibacterial properties of MAO/PCL-chitosan-nanobaghdadite composite coating on biodegradable AZ91 alloy

In the current research, a double layer coating including micro-arc oxidation (MAO) and polycaprolactone-chitosan polymer matrix composite with nanobaghdadite (MAO/PCL-Ch-Bagh) was applied on AZ91 magnesium alloy and the effect of different nanobaghdadite (0, 1, 3, and 5 (all in wt.%)) on cytotoxicity, and antibacterial behavior of AZ91 substrate was investigated. The results of the MTT assay indicated that the cell viability of the samples was increased by enhancing the nanobaghdadite percentage and the best cell viability was obtained for MAO/PCL-Ch-3 %wtBagh. However, a further increase in the percentage of nanobaghdadite to 5 % led to a decrease in the cell viability. On the contrary, the antibacterial properties of the samples were decreased by increasing the nanobaghdadite which could be due to an enhancement in the electrochemical behavior of the duplex-coated samples.

Biomass-derived 6-hydroxy-6-hydroxymethyl-2H-pyran-3(6H)-one: Green synthesis and antibacterial potential

“Defossilization” of the chemical value chain is increasingly competitive in tomorrow’s sector. Herein, a green synthesis of 6-hydroxy-6-hydroxymethyl-2H-pyran-3(6H)-one with high yield (98.1%) from bio-based feedstock 2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)furan and evaluation for the antibacterial behavior against both Gram-positive (S. aureus, B. subtilis) and Gram-negative (E. coli, P. aeruginosa) bacteria are reported. With the concentration of 20 mg/mL, the pyrone molecular is extremely sensitive for the four selected germs determined by inhibition zone qualitative assay, and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) is 0.3125 mg/mL towards all. Taking advantages of good degradability and potential broad-spectrum antibacterial activities, biomass-derived pyrones are expected to drive the development of the alternative in terms of both functionality and sustainability.

A plant leaf-mimicking film with tailored photodynamic antibacterial behavior for efficient preservation of perishable products

This work unveiled a novel biomimic visible light-harvesting film (NHC-Cur-CS) with exceptional photodynamic bactericidal activity to address the microbial spoilage of perishable products. This film was designed through a demand-oriented tailoring process that involved the integration of curcumin-loaded nitrogen-rich hollow/porous carbon fillers (NHC-Cur) and the skillful selection of chitosan (CS) matrix. The NHC-Cur-CS film boasts an impressive array of antibacterial features, including high killing rates (≥ 99.27%) and short processing times (20 min) upon visible light stimulation. The NHC-Cur-CS film has demonstrated commendable preservation performance, extending the shelf-life of citrus by up to 2.2 times. These desirable outcomes stem from the innovative designs: (i) the formation of Z-type heterojunction and hollow/porous structure bestow NHC-Cur with superior photodynamic activity, and (ii) the meticulous matching of NHC-Cur with CS mitigates the shortcomings of both materials in antibacterial process. These remarkable features highlight the potential of NHC-Cur-CS film for safeguarding perishable products effectively.

Highly hydrophilic and antifouling poly(vinylidene fluoride) hybrid ultrafiltration membranes incorporated with silver‐loaded iron‐based metal–organic frameworks

AbstractSilver‐loaded iron‐based metal–organic frameworks (Ag@FeBTC) are synthesized and incorporated with poly (vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) to make hybrid ultrafiltration (UF) membranes and are efficiently utilized to treat water containing macromolecular pollutants. The chemical functionality and semi‐amorphous nature of the Ag@FeBTC are validated by FT‐IR and XRD, respectively. The morphology and elemental composition of PVDF/Ag@FeBTC membranes are probed by SEM and EDX mapping. The creation of pores is visibly seen in cross‐sectional SEM images and the improvement in roughness is noticed in AFM images. Because of the improved hydrophilicity of Ag@FeBTC on the PVDF membrane matrix, the contact angle is reduced to 33.9°. The excellent dispersion of Ag@FeBTC on the PVDF membrane matrix is observed through elemental mapping. The PVDF/Ag@FeBTC hybrid membranes exhibited higher pure water flux (160 L m−2 h−1) and greater than 90% rejection as well as flux recovery ratio for foulant removal (BSA and HA). The antimicrobial property of PVDF/Ag@FeBTC hybrid membranes is probed using a zone of inhibition test against E. coli and S. aureus, and the results revealed that the hybrid membranes possess superior antibacterial behavior. The long‐term stability of MOF in hybrid membranes is confirmed by AAS. Overall characterization and performance results of the hybrid PVDF/Ag@FeBTC UF membrane clearly demonstrated its potential use for water treatment applications.

Fabrication of versatile poly(xylitol sebacate)-co-poly(ethylene glycol) hydrogels through multifunctional crosslinkers and dynamic bonds for wound healing

Poly(polyol sebacate) (PPS) polymer family has been recognized as promising biomaterials for biomedical applications with their characteristics of easy production, elasticity, biodegradation, and cytocompatibility. Poly(xylitol sebacate)-co-poly(ethylene glycol) (PXS-co-PEG) has been developed to fabricate PPS-based hydrogels; however, current PXS-co-PEG hydrogels presented limited properties and functions due to the limitations of the crosslinkers and crosslinking chemistry used in the hydrogel formation. Here, we fabricate a new type of PXS-co-PEG hydrogels through the use of multifunctional crosslinkers as well as dynamic bonds. In our design, polyethyleneimine-polydopamine (PEI-PDA) macromers are utilized to crosslink aldehyde-functionalized PXS-co-PEG (APP) through imine bonds and hydrogen bonds. PEI-PDA/APP hydrogels present multiple functional properties (e.g., fluorescent, elastomeric, biodegradable, self-healing, bioadhesive, antioxidant, and antibacterial behaviors). These properties of PEI-PDA/APP hydrogels can be fine-tuned by changing the PDA grafting degrees in the PEI-PDA crosslinkers. Most importantly, PEI-PDA/APP hydrogels are considered promising wound dressings to promote tissue remodeling and prevent bacterial infection in vivo. Taken together, PEI-PDA/APP hydrogels have been demonstrated as versatile biomaterials to provide multiple tailorable properties and desirable functions to expand the utility of PPS-based hydrogels for advanced biomedical applications. Statement of significanceVarious strategies have been developed to fabricate poly(polyol sebacate) (PPS)-based hydrogels. However, current PPS-based hydrogels present limited properties and functions due to the limitations of the crosslinkers and crosslinking chemistry used in the hydrogel formation. This work describes that co-engineering crosslinkers and interfacial crosslinking is a promising approach to synthesizing a new type of poly(xylitol sebacate)-co-poly(ethylene glycol) (PXS-co-PEG) hydrogels as multifunctional hydrogels to expand the utility of PPS-based hydrogels for advanced biomedical applications. The fabricated hydrogels present multiple functional properties (e.g., fluorescent, biodegradable, elastomeric, self-healing, bioadhesive, antioxidative, and antibacterial), and these properties can be fine-tuned by the defined crosslinkers. The fabricated hydrogels are also used as promising wound dressing biomaterials to exhibit promoted tissue remodeling and prevent bacterial infection in vivo.

Structure–activity relationship on selective antibacterial activity of nonionic surfactants

AbstractThe antibacterial activity of surfactants is an important factor to consider for improving skin conditions in cosmetic and skin care products. In this study, we evaluated the antibacterial activity of 16 nonionic surfactants containing ethylene oxide, ester, and ether functional groups against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Staphylococcus epidermidis (S. epidermidis). 12:0 MG ester and 6–12 diol, which showed antibacterial activity against both Staphylococci, had compact hydrophilic groups with low polarity. In contrast, 12:0 PEG‐10 ester and 12:0 Sor ester, which showed antibacterial activity only against S. aureus, had large hydrophilic groups and high polarity. These results suggest that the hydrophilicity and polarity of the surfactant may be involved in its antibacterial behavior against Staphylococci. These findings will be useful in the design of surfactant molecules and in the development of cosmetics and body cleansers that exhibit antibacterial activity only against S. aureus.