Green Composites Films with Antibacterial Properties

Alginate and poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) are biodegradable biopolymers with great promise in a wide range of industrial applications. However, these biopolymers do not possess antibacterial properties which are highly desirable for certain advanced applications. In this regard, herein, we present green composites based on these polymers reinforced with two types of carbon nanomaterials: graphene oxide and carbon nanofibers. These nanomaterials improve some of the polymer physical properties such as compressive strength, wettability, liquid water diffusion, and tensile properties among others. Moreover, these nanocomposites exhibit antibacterial properties including against multidrug-resistant pathogens such as the life-threatening methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis. Additionally, they do not result toxic when they come into contact with human keratinocyte HaCat cells or canine adipose derived mesenchymal stem cells using the same concentrations that exhibit high antibacterial activity. In addition, the incorporation of low amounts of these carbon nanomaterials improves cell attachment and proliferation. Thus, the combination of these green biopolymers with carbon nanomaterials such as graphene oxide and carbon nanofibers shows excellent enhancement of biological and physical properties.