Polymers containing nanoparticles with the ability to inhibit the proliferation of many microorganisms, in the packaging, transport and hospital sectors.

The microorganisms that surround us and that can cause discomfort, disease and even death in some cases, they are invisible to the eye of man but, not only do they keep us company in every place we are, but often we ourselves carry them from one place to another, during our daily life.

Scientific research has been studying the phenomenon for years, it is not so much focused on direct intervention to disinfect the surfaces we touch, but rather on avoiding the proliferation mechanism of microorganisms on the surfaces.

By surfaces we mean all those objects that, directly or indirectly, can be vectors of contact with our body and, consequently, could cause diseases of rapid diffusion.

This is true for the world of packaging, for hospitals, for means of transport, in our homes, for places of social gathering, in short, in all those situations in which microorganisms have an easy time to replicate.

From a technical point of view, this phenomenon can be understood in what is called biofouling, that is, biological contamination processes deposited on the surface of materials. This process begins with the formation of a primary film on the surface of the material in the presence of at least two variables, microorganisms and moisture.

Among the predominant microorganisms are bacteria and diatoms, which produce a large amount of organic matter, such as polysaccharide acids that form a surface film with many nutrients, which is used for the colonization of other larger organisms.

For example, in the health field, it has been discovered that micro-films, composed of microorganisms, can form in medical devices such as vascular catheters, joint prostheses and catheters urinary, which was, at times, resistant to antibiotics.

Other areas under observation are for example means of transport or hospitals, whose fight against infectious microorganisms is fought with metal nanoparticles available in many types and quantity.

In this way, the nanoparticles Cu, ZnO, Se, ZrO 2, SiO, TiO 2, among others, can be used in all social places and our homes in the presence of high humidity.

The carrier for the nanoparticles can be a polymer, of any type, which constitutes the products, for example, silver or copper nanoparticles, are materials interesting that can be used to combat biofouling, as they have broad spectrum antimicrobial properties and are effective against multiple bacteria, viruses and fungi.

Furthermore, iron oxide nanoparticles also have antimicrobial characteristics, but their study was less extensive than Ag and Cu nanoparticles, but it is important to note that their biocompatibility is an important reason to implement their use in commercial products such as those for packaging.

Automatic translation. We apologize for any inaccuracies. Original article in Italian.