Investigation of functionalized surface charges of thermoplastic starch/zinc oxide nanocomposite films using polyaniline: The potential of improved antibacterial properties

Korakot Charoensri, Chatchai Rodwihok, Duangmanee Wongratanaphisan, Jung A. Ko, Jin Suk Chung, Hyun Jin Park

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

31 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Improving the antibacterial activity of biodegradable materials is crucial for combatting widespread drug-resistant bacteria and plastic pollutants. In this work, we studied polyaniline (PANI)-functionalized zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) to improve surface charges. A PANI-functionalized ZnO NP surface was prepared using a simple impregnation technique. The PANI functionalization of ZnO successfully increased the positive surface charge of the ZnO NPs. In addition, PANI-functionalized ZnO improved mechanical properties and thermal stability. Besides those properties, the water permeability of the bionanocomposite films was decreased due to their increased hydrophobicity. PANI-functionalized ZnO NPs were applied to thermoplastic starch (TPS) films for physical properties and antibacterial studies using Escherichia coli ( E. Coli) and Staphylococcus aureus ( S. aureus ). The PANI-functionalized ZnO bionanocomposite films exhibited excellent antibacterial activity for both E. Coli (76%) and S. aureus (72%). This result suggests that PANI-functionalized ZnO NPs can improve the antibacterial activity of TPS-based bionanocomposite films.

Original languageEnglish
Article number425
Pages (from-to)1-15
Number of pages15
JournalPolymers
Volume13
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2021 Jan

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Acknowledgments: This work was supported by school of life science and biotechnology for BK21PLUS ,Institute of biomedical science, food safety, Korea university and Korea Institute of Planning and Evaluation for Technology in Food, Agriculture and Forestry (IPET) through High Value-added Food Technology Development Program (2020R1A2C101172311).

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

Keywords

  • Antibacterial activity
  • Functionalized ZnO NPs
  • Polyaniline
  • Positive surface charge
  • Thermoplastic starch

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Chemistry
  • Polymers and Plastics

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