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Antibacterial efficacy of polypyrrole in textile applications

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Abstract

This paper describes application and evaluation of polypyrrole as an antibacterial polymer. Polypyrrole was produced embedding two doping agents: chloride and dicyclohexyl sulfosuccinate ions. Stability of the antibacterial efficacy of polypyrrole deposited on cotton fabrics was assessed before and after three different kinds of washing (namely, laundering with anionic and non-ionic detergents and dry-cleaning). Polypyrrole showed excellent antibacterial properties (100 % of bacterial reduction) against Escherichia coli for both doping agents. Treated fabrics were further characterised by scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray analysis and infrared spectroscopy. The antibacterial efficacy diminished after launderings with anionic and non-ionic detergents because of two different mechanisms: the neutralisation of positive charges under alkali conditions (dedoping), and a partial removal of polypyrrole by abrasion and surfactant action. After dry-cleaning, polypyrrole embedding chloride and dicyclohexyl sulfosuccinate ions still showed excellent antibacterial efficacy. Moreover, scanning electron microscopy investigations were used to intuitively explain the bactericidal mechanism of polypyrrole on Escherichia coli bacteria.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. CNR-ISMAC, National Research Council of Italy, Institute for Macromolecular Studies, Biella, Italy

    Alessio Varesano, Claudia Vineis, Annalisa Aluigi, Fabio Rombaldoni, Cinzia Tonetti & Giorgio Mazzuchetti

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  1. Alessio Varesano
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  2. Claudia Vineis
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  3. Annalisa Aluigi
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  4. Fabio Rombaldoni
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  5. Cinzia Tonetti
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  6. Giorgio Mazzuchetti
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Correspondence to Alessio Varesano.

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Varesano, A., Vineis, C., Aluigi, A. et al. Antibacterial efficacy of polypyrrole in textile applications. Fibers Polym 14, 36–42 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12221-013-0036-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12221-013-0036-4

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