CVL-006

In the textile, medical, and food industries, many of the applications have targeted the use of textile fabrics with antimicrobial properties. Obtaining eco-friendly coatings is of wide interest, especially for applications related to wound dressing or to food packaging. In order to obtain coatings with antimicrobial properties through environmentally friendly methods, a series of experiments were carried out on the use of natural polymers loaded with silver nanoparticles. In this study, coatings with antimicrobial properties were obtained by depositing natural composites based on rice flour, carob flour, or alginate on cotton fabrics. These antimicrobial coatings were multicomponent systems, in which the host matrix was generated via hydration of natural polymers. The nanocomposite obtained from the phytosynthesis of silver particles in ginger extract was embedded in hydrogel matrices. The multicomponent gels obtained by embedding silver nanoparticles in natural polymer matrices were deposited on cotton fabric and were studied in relation to nanoparticles and the type of host matrix, and the antimicrobial activity was evaluated. Fabrics coated with such systems provide a hydrophilic surface with antimicrobial properties and can therefore be used in various areas where textiles provide antibacterial protection.

Zero-valent copper and silver metals (Ms) nanoparticles (NPs) supported on carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) were synthesized for treating Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli fimbriae 4 (ETEC:F4), a major cause of diarrhea in post-weaned pigs. The antibacterial properties of Cu0/CMC and Ag0/CMC were assessed on infected porcine intestinal enterocyte IPEC-J2, an in vitro model mimicking the small intestine. The lower average particle size (218 nm) and polydispersity index [PDI]: 0.25) for Ag0/CMC, when compared with those of Cu0/CMC (367 nm and PDI 0.96), were explained by stronger Ag0/CMC interactions. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and half inhibitory concentration (IC50) of Ag0/CMC were lower in both bacteria and IPEC-J2 cells than those of Cu0/CMC, confirming that silver nanoparticles are more bactericidal than copper counterparts. IPEC-J2, less sensitive in MNP/CMC treatment, was used to further investigate the infective process by ETEC:F4. The IC50 of MNP/CMC increased significantly when infected IPEC-J2 cells and ETEC were co-treated, showing an inhibition of the cytotoxicity effect of ETEC:F4 infection and protection of treated IPEC-J2. Thus, it appears that metal insertion in CMC induces an inhibiting effect on ETEC:F4 growth and that MNP/CMC dispersion governs the enhancement of this effect. These results open promising prospects for metal-loaded biopolymers for preventing and treating swine diarrhea.