title: Antimicrobial potential of consolidation polymers loaded with biological copper nanoparticles.
abstract: Biodeterioration of historic monuments and stone works by microorganisms takes place as a result of biofilm production and secretion of organic compounds that negatively affect on the stone matrix.
  
  
  
  Copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) were prepared biologically using the headspace gases generated by the bacterial culture Escherichia coli Z1. The antimicrobial activity of CuNPs was evaluated against the bacterial strains Bacillus subtilis, Micrococcus luteus, Streptomyces parvulus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa as well as some fungal strains Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Penicillium chrysogenum, Fusarium solani and Alternaria solani.
  
  
  
  Biological CuNPs demonstrated antibacterial and antifungal activities higher than those of the untreated copper sulfate. At the same time, limestone and sandstone blocks treated with consolidation polymers functionalized with CuNPs recorded apparent antimicrobial activity against E. coli, S. parvulus and B. subtilis in addition to an improvement in the physical and mechanical characters of the treated stones. Furthermore, the elemental composition of CuNPs was elucidated using electron dispersive x-ray system connected with the scanning electron microscope.
  
  
  
  Consolidation polymers impregnated with CuNPs could be used to restrain microbial deterioration in addition to the refinement of physico-mechanical behavior of the historic stones.
authors.affiliation: Botany Department, Faculty of Science, Fayoum University, Fayoum, Egypt. ashraf.essa@yahoo.com.|Biology Department, Faculty of Science, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia. ashraf.essa@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Ashraf M M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Essa
authors.affiliation: Conservation Department, Faculty of Archaeology, Fayoum University, Fayoum, Egypt.
authors.forename: Mohamed K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Khallaf
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects; D002119:Calcium Carbonate / Q000737:chemistry; D003300:Copper / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D019327:Copper Sulfate / Q000494:pharmacology; D005658:Fungi / Q000187:drug effects; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000935:Antifungal Agents; D011108:Polymers; D003300:Copper; D002119:Calcium Carbonate; D019327:Copper Sulfate
keywords: Antibacterial; Antifungal; Copper nanoparticles; Functionalized polymers; Green synthesis