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Updated: Sep 23, 2025
Preparation of Light-responsive Membranes by a Combined Surface Grafting and Postmodification Process
Published on: March 21, 2014
Antimicrobial and optical properties of PET chemically modified and grafted with borane compounds
Monika Benkocká1, Simona Lupínková1, Jindřich Matoušek1
1Faculty of Science, J. E. Purkinje University in Usti nad Labem České Mládeže 8 400 96 Usti nad Labem Czech Republic BenkockaMonika@seznam.cz mbenkocka@gmail.com.
Abstract:
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) foils were activated with piranha solution and grafted with selected amino compounds (cysteamine, ethylenediamine or chitosan) and then with borane compounds. Changes in their surface properties after particular modification steps were examined using electrokinetic analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), goniometry and UV-vis spectroscopy. Several tests showed that the presence of some amino compounds and one borane cluster significantly improved the antimicrobial properties of the composites investigated. In particular, they exhibited strong antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus epidermidis but only weak activity against Escherichia coli. The samples modified with amino compounds and subsequently with borane clusters were luminescent under UV lamp irradiation. Therefore, the nanocomposites consisting of (cheap) polymer and (more expensive) borane could be used in luminophore development, medicine or environmental protection.
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