Journal
EUROPEAN POLYMER JOURNAL
Volume 42, Issue 12, Pages 3383-3389Publisher
PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2006.07.026
Keywords
polyethylene; antibacterial; biocide; zeta potential; biofilm formation
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The present study aims at antimicrobial polyethylene surfaces. To achieve this, LLDPE was compounded with the polymeric biocide poly(2-tert-butylaminoethyl) methacrylate TBAM (bulk modification with 1.5-5.0 wt.% of TBAM). Surfaces of these polymer compounds were then subjected to microbial assays. Using standard methods the colony forming units (CFU) for Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were determined on these surfaces. In all cases, polyethylene surfaces with highly antimicrobial properties were achieved. An average reduction of 104 CFU ml(-1) compared to neat LLDPE was achieved. The surfaces of these LLDPE/TBAM compounds were assessed by electrokinetic (zeta potential) measurements. The results indicate a relation between the antimicrobial activity and the zeta-potential of the polymer compounds. Moreover, the antimicrobial compounds were investigated towards biofilm formation. Compared to pristine LLDPE, the surfaces of the polymer compounds showed less adhering biofilm after a testing period of 16 weeks. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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