Cellulose acetate-based composites with antimicrobial properties from embedded molybdenum trioxide particles

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Biotechnology
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Cellulose acetate is a versatile biopolymer with potential for functionalization.
• Developing effective antimicrobial materials is crucial for public health and medical applications.
• Molybdenum trioxide (MoO3) possesses unique properties that can be leveraged for antimicrobial purposes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop novel cellulose acetate composite materials with enhanced antimicrobial properties.
• To investigate the efficacy of embedding high-surface-area molybdenum trioxide particles into a cellulose acetate matrix.
• To explore the antimicrobial mechanism of the developed composite materials.

Main Methods:

• High-surface-area molybdenum trioxide particles were synthesized via calcination of molybdenum trioxide dihydrate.
• Cellulose acetate composites were fabricated by embedding the prepared molybdenum trioxide particles.
• Antimicrobial activity was evaluated against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa using a roll-on test.

Main Results:

• The developed cellulose acetate composites demonstrated excellent antimicrobial activity against all tested bacteria.
• Composites containing high-surface-area anhydrous molybdenum trioxide particles showed superior efficacy.
• The antimicrobial effect is attributed to the release of protons and increased surface area of molybdenum trioxide particles.

Conclusions:

• A novel thermoplastic, bio-based composite with excellent antimicrobial surface properties was successfully developed.
• This study represents the first report on embedding molybdenum trioxide into a cellulose acetate biopolymer matrix for antimicrobial evaluation.
• The developed composites hold promise for innovative applications in medical and public environments requiring antimicrobial surfaces.