Supercritical Fluid Applications in the Design of Novel Antimicrobial Materials

Abstract

Bacterial resistance to antibiotics is one of the biggest problems in the modern world. The prevention of bacterial spreading from hospitals to the community and vice versa is an issue we have to deal with. This review presents a vast potential of contemporary high-pressure techniques in the design of materials with antimicrobial activity. Scientists from all over the world came up with ideas on how to exploit extraordinary properties of supercritical fluids in the production of advantageous materials in an environmentally friendly way. The review summarizes reported methods and results.

Application of Supercritical Solvent Impregnation for Production of Zeolite Modified Starch-Chitosan Polymers with Antibacterial Properties

“…SSI has previously been applied in the production of materials with antimicrobial properties [ 26 , 27 ]. Successful functionalization of synthetic materials such as linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) with eugenol [ 28 , 29 ] and thymol [ 30 ] in scCO 2 has been reported.…”

Functional Modification of Cellulose Acetate Microfiltration Membranes by Supercritical Solvent Impregnation

“…Supercritical solvent impregnation (SSI) is an advanced technique for impregnating solid matrices with active substances soluble in the supercritical fluid [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]. In SSI, a supercritical solution of the active substance is brought into contact with the substrate in a batch or semi-continuous process.…”

“…In SSI, a supercritical solution of the active substance is brought into contact with the substrate in a batch or semi-continuous process. The absence of surface tension in the supercritical state allows for easy penetration of the fluid into the solid matrix and its impregnation [ 2 ]. The process is environmentally friendly, with no waste generation, and is energy-efficient [ 1 , 2 ].…”

“…The absence of surface tension in the supercritical state allows for easy penetration of the fluid into the solid matrix and its impregnation [ 2 ]. The process is environmentally friendly, with no waste generation, and is energy-efficient [ 1 , 2 ]. Carbon dioxide is the most used supercritical solvent owing to the favourable critical properties (31.1 °C and 7.38 MPa), availability, non-toxicity, and non-flammability.…”

“…The problem of increased bacterial resistance to antibiotics led research toward the design of novel antibacterial mats. As a modern and promising technique, the potential of SSI has been explored in the last ten years in the design of materials with antibacterial properties [ 2 ]. In a considerable number of reports, thymol was used as an active component because of its strong antibacterial properties against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, excellent solubility in supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO 2 ), and GRAS (generally recognized as safe) status given by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) [ 2 ].…”