Antibacterial polyethylene/clay nanocomposites using chlorhexidine as organic modifier

Abstract

The set of low density polyethylene/clay nanocomposites with increasing amount of organoclay nanofiller (3, 6 and 10 wt %) was prepared by melt compounding procedure without additives. An antimicrobial drug, chlorhexidine diacetate (CA), was loaded into Zn2+ form of clay mineral vermiculite (ZnVer) at very low concentration and then organoclay nanofiller CA/ZnVer was incorporated into polymeric matrix. The structural characteristics of all prepared samples were studied by XRD and FTIR techniques. The nanocomposites were tested for antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Prepared samples showed a very good antibacterial activity with long lasting effect against S. aureus and slightly worse effect against E. coli.