Biofunctionalization of Textile Materials. 2. Antimicrobial Modification of Poly(lactide) (PLA) Nonwoven Fabricsby Fosfomycin

Polymers (Basel). 2020 Apr 1;12(4):768. doi: 10.3390/polym12040768.

Abstract

This research is focused on obtaining antimicrobial hybrid materials consisting of poly(lactide) nonwoven fabrics and using phosphoro-organic compound-fosfomycin-as a coating and modifying agent. Polylactide (PLA) presents biodegradable polymer with multifunctional application, widely engaged in medical related areas. Fosfomycin as functionalized phosphonates presents antibiotic properties expressed by broad spectrum of antimicrobial properties. The analysis of these biofunctionalized nonwoven fabrics processed by the melt-blown technique, included: scanning electron microscopy (SEM), UV/VIS transmittance, FTIR spectrometry, air permeability. The functionalized nonwovens were tested on microbial activity tests against colonies of gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and gram-negative(Escherichia coli) bacteria.

Keywords: antibacterial activity; fosfomycin; phosphomycin disodium salt; phosphonomycin; poly(lactide) nonwoven fabric; polyamide; polymer functionalization.