The influence of accelerated UV-A and Q-SUN irradiation on the antimicrobial properties of coatings containing ZnO nanoparticles was investigated using a polyethylene (PE) film covering. The results of the study showed that Methyl Hydroxypropyl Celluloses (MHPC) coatings did not influence the growth of S. aureus, B. cereus, E. coli, P. aeruginosa or C. albicans cells. MHPC coatings containing ZnO nanoparticles inhibited the growth of bacterial strains and reduced the number of C. albicans strains. Accelerated Q-SUN and UV-A irradiation had no influence on the antimicrobial effect of nano ZnO coatings against S. aureus, B. cereus and E. coli. Q-SUN irradiation decreased the activity of MHPC coatings containing nanoparticles against P. aeruginosa and C. albicans. An FT-IR analysis clearly showed that ZnO nanoparticles shielded the MHPC coating during Q-SUN irradiation.
Keywords: ZnO nanoparticles; antibacterial; antimicrobial properties; coatings.