Development of Novel Thin Polycaprolactone (PCL)/Clay Nanocomposite Films with Antimicrobial Activity Promoted by the Study of Mechanical, Thermal, and Surface Properties

Abstract

Infection with pathogenic microorganisms is of great concern in many areas, especially in healthcare, but also in food packaging and storage, or in water purification systems. Antimicrobial polymer nanocomposites have gained great popularity in these areas. Therefore, this study focused on new approaches to develop thin antimicrobial films based on biodegradable polycaprolactone (PCL) with clay mineral natural vermiculite as a carrier for antimicrobial compounds, where the active organic antimicrobial component is antifungal ciclopirox olamine (CPX). For possible synergistic effects, a sample in combination with the inorganic antimicrobial active ingredient zinc oxide was also prepared. The structures of all the prepared samples were studied by X-ray diffraction, FTIR analysis and, predominantly, by SEM. The very different structure properties of the prepared nanofillers had a fundamental influence on the final structural arrangement of thin PCL nanocomposite films as well as on their mechanical, thermal, and surface properties. As sample PCL/ZnOVER_CPX possessed the best results for antimicrobial activity against examined microbial strains, the synergic effect of CPX and ZnO combination on antimicrobial activity was proved, but on the other hand, its mechanical resistance was the lowest.

Comparison of antimicrobial properties of inorganic peroxide polymer composites

“…PCL has shown potential in wound healing applications due to its very stable structure in aqueous state and the incorporation of peroxides seemed not to affect its morphology or swelling behavior (Figure 1 and Figure S1). The microstructures of the films in this study resembled PCL‐inorganic composites with similar loading levels of inorganic particulates processed similarly, 31 and it was apparent that the inorganic phases were well dispersed.…”

Advanced antimicrobial PCL/clay nanocomposite films: preparation, characterization, properties and degradation in simulated body fluid

“…00-013-0437) is evident for all samples about 2θ 10.6° (d = 0.836 nm). Description of VER is given in [37]. The XRD pattern of ZnOVER (Fig.…”

“…3. Pure PCL shows characteristic PCL re ections of the semicrystalline orthorhombic structure [37] at 2θ 15.70°, 21.34°, 21.95° and 23.64° (d = 0.563 nm, 0.416 nm, 0.404 nm and 0.376 nm).…”

Mechanical Characterization Study of Additive as Nanofiller in Poly (ε-Caprolactone) Nanocomposite

“…Biodegradable polymers like poly(lactic acid) (PLA), poly (glycolic acid) (PGA), poly(trimethylene carbonate) (PTMC) and poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) have a very wide spectrum of biomedical applications in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine [5]. Over the years, PCL has gained immense importance in biomedical field due to its various properties such as adjustable biodegradability, compatibility with wide range of drugs, rubbery nature and ease of forming blends, composites and copolymers [6]. The application of PCL ranges from drug-delivery systems [7][8][9][10], medical devices using PCL for wound dressing [11][12], fixation devices [13] or in dentistry [14,15], as well as PCL included in tissue, bone, or blood vessel engineering [16][17][18][19][20][21].…”