Copper Tannic Acid-Coordinated Metal-Organic Nanosheets for Synergistic Antimicrobial and Antifouling Coatings

The copper tannic acid (CuTA) nanosheets with an excellent antibacterial activity were successfully prepared, which showed fine antibacterial and antifouling performance after hybridization with acrylic resin. The morphology and structure characterization of CuTA nanosheets were studied by transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, etc. The plate counting method, zone of inhibition test, and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) method were used to detect the antibacterial activity of the prepared samples against Gram-positive Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis) and Gram-negative Escherichia coli (E. coli). The results showed that the killing rates of 2 and 0.5 mg/mL of CuTA powder were close to 100% after 24 h. The MIC values of E. coli and B. subtilis were 0.25 and 0.5 mg/mL, respectively. The results of morphology and element distribution of bacteria, after treating with CuTA powder, revealed that Cu2+ and TA destroyed their cell walls and inhibited the proliferation and growth of the bacteria. Furthermore, the hybrid coating of CuTA nanosheets and acrylic resin showed brilliant antimicrobial performance for E. coli and B. subtilis and antialgae properties under a lower CuTA load (<= 5%). The CuTA nanosheets with a low copper content (30.9 wt %) and low pollution have promising applications in marine antifouling coatings.

Automated summary

In this study, copper tannic acid (CuTA) nanosheets with excellent antibacterial activity were successfully prepared and showed fine antibacterial and antifouling performance after being hybridized with acrylic resin. The CuTA nanosheets exhibited significant killing rates against Gram-positive Bacillus subtilis and Gram-negative Escherichia coli, disrupting their cell walls and inhibiting their proliferation and growth. The hybrid coating of CuTA nanosheets and acrylic resin displayed promising antimicrobial effectiveness and antialgae properties under a low CuTA load, suggesting potential applications in marine antifouling coatings.