Bacterial Growth on Chitosan-Coated Polypropylene Textile

Abstract EN

Biofouling is a problem common in all systems where microorganisms and aqueous environment meet.

Prevention of biofouling is therefore important in many industrial processes.

The aim of this study was to develop a method to evaluate the ability of material coating to inhibit biofilm formation.

Chitosan-coated polypropylene nonwoven textile was prepared using dielectric barrier discharge plasma activation.

Resistance of the textile to biofouling was then tested.

First, the textile was submerged into a growth medium inoculated with green fluorescein protein labelled Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

After overnight incubation at 33°C, the textile was observed using confocal laser scanning microscopy for bacterial enumeration and biofilm structure characterisation.

In the second stage, the textile was used as a filter medium for prefiltered river water, and the pressure development on the in-flow side was measured to quantify the overall level of biofouling.

In both cases, nontreated textile samples were used as a control.

The results indicate that the chitosan coating exhibits antibacterial properties.

The developed method is applicable for the evaluation of the ability to inhibit biofilm formation.