This document describes the creation of antibacterial fibres through the deposition of polyelectrolyte multilayers. The multilayers are formed via a simple water-based process using polyvinylamine (PVAm) and a modified hydrophobic PVAm. Testing showed the multilayers reduced bacterial growth by 50% with just 3 layers. When applied to fibres, the multilayers reduced bacterial removal by over 99.9% and inhibited growth. Oxidizing the fibres further increased these antibacterial effects. Electron microscopy images revealed bacteria attached to untreated fibres were over 1.5 μm long while those on oxidized fibres were under 1 μm, showing contact-active antibacterial properties. The multilayers have potential applications

1. THE CREATION OF
ANTIBACTERIAL FIBRES
JOSEFIN ILLERGÅRD

5. 10x

6. vs

7. Ag+

10. TWO REASONS

15. TRICLOSAN (µg/L)
Uddevalla
Lysekil
Göteborg
0,00 0,50 1,00 1,50

16. ANTIBACTERIAL
SURFACES

17. CONTACT-ACTIVE
VS
LEACHING

18. LEACHING
COMMON
UNWANTED

20. THE BACTERIA

21. HYDROPHOBICITY EFFECT 50 nm
Figure Tiller et al 2001

22. INFLUENCE OF CHARGE
CHARGE
Figure from Murata et al 2007

23. + WELL-DESCRIBED
- ORGANIC SOLVENTS
- HARSH CONDITIONS

25. POLYELECTROLYTE MULTILAYERS

26. + WATER BASED
+ SIMPLE
- ?

27. POLYVINYLAMINE

28. Model surface

29. QCM-D
25
100 mM
20 10 mM
Sauerbrey mass (mg/m2)
1 mM
15
10
5
0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70

30. FLAT & DENSE

31. HYDROPHOBIC
TAILS
ELECTROSTATICS

32. GROWTH REDUCTION
50%
40% PVAm
PVAm-C8
30%
20%
10%
0%
1 3 5 7
# LAYERS

33. PVAm, PVAm-C8
-40%

34. Fibres

35. CHARGE UP
pH OPTIMIZATION
FIBRE OXIDATION

36. POLYMER CONTENT (mg/m2)
modelsurface
fibres
oxidized fibres
0 20 40

37. 1 BACTERIA REMOVAL

38. Some remains
> 99.9 %

39. 2 BACTERIAL GROWTH

40. # LAYERS ON FIBRES
0,10
Absorbance units
0,08
0,06
0,04
0,02
0,00
1 LAYER 3 LAYERS 5 LAYERS Ref

41. EFFECT OF FIBRE-OXIDATION
0,16
24 h
0,12
Absorbance units
48 h
0,08
0,04
0,00
FIBRES OXIDIZED Ref

42. 3 ELECTRON MICROSCOPY

46. BACTERIAL LENGTH
2,0
1,5
µm
1,0
0,5
0,0
FIBRES OXIDIZED Ref

47. Ref OXIDIZED

48. CONTACT-ACTIVE
ANTIBACTERIAL
FIBRES

49. PULP PROCESSES
ex. CTMP

51. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
VINNOVA, SCA AND BASF
SUPERVISORS MONICA & LARS
COLLEUGES
FAMILY

52. JOSEFIN ILLERGÅRD
josefika@kth.se