Polymer Blend Containing MoO3 Nanowires with Antibacterial Activity against Staphylococcus epidermidis ATCC 12228

Abstract

Antibacterial activity of a polymer nanocomposite containing water-soluble poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), water insoluble poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP), and MoO3 nanowires or MoO3 microparticles as antibacterial active substances is reported. The UV-vis absorption method was used for the illumination of dissolving of the MoO3 particles of different size and morphology in water. Dissolving of MoO3 nanowires (1 mg ml-1) decreases pH bellow 3.6 in only 3 min and below 3 in 15 min, while dissolving of the PEO/PVDF-HFP/MoO3 nanowires coating (5 mg ml-1) decreases pH bellow 3.6 in 90 min. These coatings completely destroy the Staphylococcus epidermidis ATCC 12228 bacterial strain within 3 h. The proposed applications are antibacterial protective coatings of contact surfaces.