Antimicrobial nanocoatings onto the polymeric material to avoid hospital acquired infections.

Abstract

Bactericidal infections on medical implants are the main cause of hospital inquired infections which can be prevented by using antibacterial coatings onto the biomaterial surfaces. Various nanomaterials and their derived composites have recently been explored to be used as antibacterial agents. Likewise, in this study silver nanoparticles (NPs), zinc oxide nanoparticles (NPs), graphene oxide (GO) nanocomposites were synthesized through In-situ method. The synthesized nanocomposite was coated onto a polymeric material (silicone rubber) through the surface treatment of the required polymer. Which were further characterized by the following characterization techniques viz, SEM, EDS, FTIR, Raman, Uv-Vis and XRD. These synthesized materials as well as the coated thin films were then investigated against Gram-ve (G−) bacteria Escherichia coli (E. coli) and the Gram+ve (G+) bacteria Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). GO-Ag-ZnO exhibits potential antibacterial and antiadhesive properties for use as antimicrobial coatings against bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation on silicone urinary catheters. The antibacterial activity was assessed by measuring the diameter of zone inhibition by determining the MIC and MBC.