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Antibacterial and Drug Elution Performance of Thermoplastic Blends

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Abstract

Food preservatives or drug compounds can be eluted from polymer substrates to prevent the occurrence of hospital-acquired infections and food spoilage. We investigated the antimicrobial and drug-elution properties of the albumin and zein thermoplastic blends plasticized with glycerol and mixed with varying amounts of low-density polyethylene (LDPE), food preservatives (sodium benzoate or sodium nitrite), and drugs (ampicillin or ciprofloxacin). Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli were utilized as Gram (+) and Gram (−) species, respectively, for antimicrobial and drug-elution analyses, since these species are common in the human body and in food environments. The amount of contamination occurring in food and medical applications could be limited with usage of plastic blends made from thermomechanical molding of proteins (albumin from hen egg white and zein from corn), drug eluting compounds, and low-density polyethylene.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Textiles, Merchandising & Interiors, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA

    Alexander Jones & Suraj Sharma

  2. Department of Statistics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA

    Abhyuday Mandal

Authors
  1. Alexander Jones
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  2. Abhyuday Mandal
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  3. Suraj Sharma
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Correspondence to Suraj Sharma.

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Jones, A., Mandal, A. & Sharma, S. Antibacterial and Drug Elution Performance of Thermoplastic Blends. J Polym Environ 26, 132–144 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10924-016-0924-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10924-016-0924-y

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