Antimicrobial Properties of Polypropylene Yarn Modified by Metal Nanoparticles Stabilized by Polyethylene

A new approach to the creation of polypropylene fiber materials with barrier antimicrobial properties was proposed. It is based on the modification of polypropylene yarns in the process of their production by metal-containing nanoparticles with biocidal properties. Nanoparticles were used in the stabilized by polyethylene form to prevent aggregation. It has been shown that the ability of the modified yarns to inhibit the activity of pathogenic microorganisms depends on the type of metal-containing nanoparticles, the stabilizing polymer matrix, and the concentration of nanoparticles in the yarn. Nanoparticles of manganese, iron, and nickel provide a very good antimicrobial effect when exposed to Gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and fungi of the genus Candida (Candida albicans), but lead only to a slight reduction in the number of colonies of gram-negative bacterial test strain Escherichia coli. Nanoparticles of gold and palladium have little effect on pathogenic bacteria, but have a good antimicrobial effect in contact with yeast fungi of the genus Candida (C. albicans). The antimicrobial activity of nanoparticles increases with their concentration in the polymer structure.