title: Enhancing the Antibacterial Activity of Light-Activated Surfaces Containing Crystal Violet and ZnO Nanoparticles: Investigation of Nanoparticle Size, Capping Ligand, and Dopants.
abstract: Healthcare-associated infections pose a serious risk for patients, staff, and visitors and are a severe burden on the National Health Service, costing at least £1 billion annually. Antimicrobial surfaces significantly contribute toward reducing the incidence of infections as they prevent bacterial adhesion and cause bacterial cell death. Using a simple, easily upscalable swell-encapsulation-shrink method, novel antimicrobial surfaces have been developed by incorporating metal oxide nanoparticles (NPs) and crystal violet (CV) dye into medical-grade polyurethane sheets. This study compares the bactericidal effects of polyurethane incorporating ZnO, Mg-doped ZnO, and MgO. All metal oxide NPs are well defined, with average diameters ranging from 2 to 18 nm. These materials demonstrate potent bactericidal activity when tested against clinically relevant bacteria such asEscherichia coliandStaphylococcus aureus. Additionally, these composites are tested against an epidemic strain of methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus(MRSA) that is rife in hospitals throughout the UK. Furthermore, we have tested these materials using a low light intensity (∼500 lx), similar to that present in many clinical environments. The highest activity is achieved from polymer composites incorporating CV and ∼3 nm ZnO NPs, and the different performances of the metal oxides have been discussed.
authors.affiliation: UCL Division of Surgery and Interventional Science, University College London, Royal Free Campus, Rowland Hill Street, London NW3 2PF, U.K.; Materials Chemistry Research Centre, Department of Chemistry, University College London, 20 Gordon Street, London WC1H 0AJ, U.K.; Division of Microbial Disease, UCL Eastman Dental Institute, University College London, 256 Gray's Inn Road, London WC1X 8LD, U.K.
authors.forename: Sandeep K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Sehmi
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering, University College London , Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, U.K.
authors.forename: Sacha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Noimark
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London , Imperial College Road, London SW7 2AZ, U.K.
authors.forename: Sebastian D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Pike
authors.affiliation: Materials Chemistry Research Centre, Department of Chemistry, University College London , 20 Gordon Street, London WC1H 0AJ, U.K.
authors.forename: Joseph C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Bear
authors.affiliation: Materials Chemistry Research Centre, Department of Chemistry, University College London , 20 Gordon Street, London WC1H 0AJ, U.K.
authors.forename: William J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Peveler
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London , Imperial College Road, London SW7 2AZ, U.K.
authors.forename: Charlotte K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Imperial College London , Imperial College Road, London SW7 2AZ, U.K.
authors.forename: Milo S P
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Shaffer
authors.affiliation: Division of Microbial Disease, UCL Eastman Dental Institute, University College London , 256 Gray's Inn Road, London WC1X 8LD, U.K.
authors.forename: Elaine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Allan
authors.affiliation: Materials Chemistry Research Centre, Department of Chemistry, University College London , 20 Gordon Street, London WC1H 0AJ, U.K.
authors.forename: Ivan P
authors.initials: IP
authors.lastname: Parkin
authors.affiliation: UCL Division of Surgery and Interventional Science, University College London , Royal Free Campus, Rowland Hill Street, London NW3 2PF, U.K.
authors.forename: Alexander J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: MacRobert