Novel Antimicrobial Polyelectrolytes Nanofilm Coatings Using the Layer By Layer Technique

Abstract

A novel method using the layer by layer (LBL) technique was investigated to deposit polyelectrolytes with an- tibacterial properties. A glass substrate was coated by a cationic biguanide followed by the anionic polystyrene sulfonate until a total of twenty layers were deposited. The layers thickness was measured by ellipsometry and the surface morphol- ogy was scanned by an atomic force microscope. The layers thickness reached 60nm. The coated and uncoated glass was immersed into tubes containing a nutrient broth media inoculated with Proteus sp., (a gram negative , rod, glucose fer- menting bacteria) in a concentration of (~10 5 cells/mL) and incubated at 37°C for 24 hours. The SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope) micrographs showed a significant reduction in the settlement of Proteus sp. Colonies on the glass coated with polyelectrolytes.