Polypropylene with embedded copper metal or copper oxide nanoparticles as a novel plastic antimicrobial agent
- 23 May 2011
- journal article
- Published by Oxford University Press (OUP) in Letters in Applied Microbiology
- Vol. 53 (1), 50-54
- https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1472-765x.2011.03069.x
Abstract
To develop novel polypropylene composite materials with antimicrobial activity by adding different types of copper nanoparticles. Copper metal (CuP) and copper oxide nanoparticles (CuOP) were embedded in a polypropylene (PP) matrix. These composites present strong antimicrobial behaviour against E. coli that depends on the contact time between the sample and the bacteria. After just 4 h of contact, these samples are able to kill more than 95% of the bacteria. CuOP fillers are much more effective eliminating bacteria than CuP fillers, showing that the antimicrobial property further depends on the type of copper particle. Cu²⁺ released from the bulk of the composite is responsible for this behaviour. Moreover, PP/CuOP composites present a higher release rate than PP/CuP composites in a short time, explaining the antimicrobial tendency. Polypropylene composites based on copper nanoparticles can kill E. coli bacteria depending on the release rate of Cu²⁺ from the bulk of the material. CuOP are more effective as antimicrobial filler than CuP. Our findings open up novel applications of these ion-copper-delivery plastic materials based on PP with embedded copper nanoparticles with great potential as antimicrobial agents.Keywords
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