Antimicrobial modification of polypropylene films by photograft and layered double hydroxides assembly

MOSCONI, GIULIANA; SALGUERO, YADIRA; VALENTI, LAURA E.; ROJAS, RICARDO; STRUMIA, MIRIAM C.; GOMEZ, CESAR G.; GIACOMELLI, CARLA E.

REACTIVE & FUNCTIONAL POLYMERS

ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV

Año: 2022 vol. 178

1381-5148

roviding antimicrobial (AM) properties to polypropylene (PP) films is an appealing strategy for food packaging and biomedical areas. In this study, PP-based platforms with AM activity were obtained by the incorporation of layered double hydroxides (LDH) nanoparticles, intercalated with antimicrobial drugs (AMD), either nalidixate (Nal−) or benzoate (Bz−), to polyacrylate (PAA)-photografted PP films (PP-g-PAA/LDH-AMD). The assembly mechanism was explored, and the composition, morphological and interfacial properties of the obtained platforms were determined. Finally, the AM activity was assayed against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli strains. LDH-AMD were successfully incorporated to the platforms by electrostatic interactions with the carboxylate groups of the photografted PAA chains and they were mainly located in the outer region of the PAA layer. This incorporation was first produced at grooves and pits of this surface layer, and then spread by aggregation of