Film formation and anti-microbial studies of nano-composite coatings

Details

Preventing or inhibiting the growth of micro-organisms on surfaces is of prime importance in the healthcare and textile industries. A promising strategy to overcome microbial growth involves coating the surfaces with materials that can provide resistance to microbial colonization. Inorganic nano materials and organic materials with inorganic inclusions are being widely used as anti-microbial coatings. More recently, water-based organic-inorganic nano-composite materials are finding applications as functional coatings and specifically as anti-microbial coatings. However, for effective functioning of these newly emerging water-based anti-microbial coatings, a thorough understanding on the film formation and anti-microbial activity is required. In this project, silver encapsulated water-based polymer coatings will be synthesized and film formation studies with particular emphasis on “cracking” will be carried out. Eventually, anti-microbial activity of these coatings will be investigated as function of the system and drying parameters. 

Useful References:

  1. Z. Li, D. Lee, X. Sheng, R.E. Cohen, M.F. Rubner, Two-level antibacterial coating with both release-killing and contact-killing capabilities, Langmuir, 22, 9820 (2006).
  2. J.P. Ruparelia, A.K. Chatterjee, A.P. Duttagupta, S. Mukherji, Strain specificity in antimicrobial activity of silver and copper nanoparticles, Acta Biomaterialia, 4, 707 (2008).
  3. R. Dastjerdi, M. Montazer, A review on the application of inorganic nano-structured materials in the modification of textiles: Focus on anti-microbial properties, Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces, 79, 5 (2010).