Abstract:
The preparation of natural rubber (NR) film coated with zinc oxide nanoparticles for antibacterial property was divided into two steps. Firstly, dispersions of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO) were prepared using (3-Glycidyloxypropyl) trimethoxysilane (GPTMS), Oleic acid (OA) or Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as dispersing agents combining with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). The effect of ZnO contents (0.2, 0.4, 1 and 3 %w/v), sonication times (5, 10, 15, 30 and 60 minutes) and the ratios of ZnO : SDS : dispersing agent (1 : 0.25 : 0.05, 1 : 0.25 : 0.1, 1 : 0.25 : 0.2 and 1 : 0.25 : 0.25) on dispersion stability were investigated. The dispersions containing 1 %wt of ZnO with 30 minute-sonication and the ratio of ZnO/SDS/GPTMS at 1 : 0.25 : 0.2 provided the highest dispersion stability by precipitation observation. In next step, the dispersion of ZnO/SDS/GPTMS was chosen. Polyurethane (ImDHL®) was applied between NR film and ZnO layers. It was found that ZnO particles sank into polyurethane layer causing no-antibacterial effect with higher tensile properties. However, sonication treatment and by potassium persulfate (KPS) treatment could provide antiretinal films. The film from KPS treatment gave the highest antibacterial activity against both Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) about 70% and 49 %, respectively.