abstract
Antimicrobial bacterial cellulose/poly(2-aminoethyl methacrylate) (BC/PAEM) nanocomposites were prepared by in situ radical polymerization of 2-aminoethyl methacrylate, using variable amounts of N,N-methylenebis(acrylamide) (MBA) as cross-linker. The obtained nanocomposites were characterized in terms of their structure, morphology, thermal stability, mechanical properties and antibacterial activity. The ensuing composite membranes were significantly more transparent than those of pure BC and showed improved thermal and mechanical properties. The antibacterial activity of the obtained nanocomposites was assessed towards a recombinant bioluminescent Escherichia coli and only the non-crosslinked nanocomposite (BC/PAEM) proved to have antibacterial activity. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
keywords
MICROBIAL CELLULOSE; THERMAL-STABILITY; MEMBRANES; DELIVERY; POLYMETHACRYLATES; COMPOSITES; LIDOCAINE; HYDROGELS; POLYMERS; SURFACE
subject category
Chemistry; Polymer Science
authors
Figueiredo, ARP; Figueiredo, AGPR; Silva, NHCS; Barros-Timmons, A; Almeida, A; Silvestre, AJD; Freire, CSR
our authors
acknowledgements
The authors acknowledge Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia (FCT) for CICECO (Ref. FCT UID /CTM /50011/2013), financed by national funds through the FCT/MEC, CESAM (project Pest-C/MAR/LA0017/2013) and NHCS Silva (SFRH/BD/85690/2012) funding. C.S.R. Freire also acknowledges FCT/MCTES for a research contract under the Programme