Fabrication of N-halamine/MWPPy-ZnO hybrids based cellulose nanofibril composite films with improved UV-protective, antibacterial, and biofilm control functions

• Published in: International journal of biological macromolecules 2024-10, Vol.278 (Pt 3), p.135023, Article 135023
• Main Authors: Ma, Wei, Yang, Yutong, Wang, Wei, Qv, Jing, Jia, Jiru, Ren, Xuehong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antibacterial; Biofilm control; N-halamine; UV resistance; ZnO
• ISSN: 0141-8130; 1879-0003; 1879-0003
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.135023

The design and fabrication of synergistic hybrid antibacterial materials is a promising approach for achieving effective sterilization while compensating for the deficiency of a single component. Despite being highly effective biocidal components, the poor UV light stability of some N-halamines limits their applications. This study was conducted to address this issue by the rational integration of cyclic N-halamine precursor (PGHAPA) with microwaved zinc oxide (MWPPy-ZnO) nanoparticles via covalent bonds and the preparation of cellulose nanofibrils based antibacterial composite films after chlorination (CNF/MWPPy-ZnO-PGHAPA-Cl). The proposed films offered tight lamellar structure, considerable thermal stability and better mechanical properties. The results from the FT-IR and XPS experiments provided the evidence of chemical reactions among the PGHAPA, MWPPy-ZnO, and CNF film. Notably, the CNF/MWPPy-ZnO-PGHAPA-Cl films showed improved UV stability with a chlorine content of up to 0.16 % after 24 h of irradiation, which was much greater than that of the CNF/PGHAPA-Cl films. Furthermore, the CNF/MWPPy-ZnO-PGHAPA-Cl films displayed rapid bactericidal activity, inactivating all the contacted Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli O157:H7 strains within 5 min, along with prominent biofilm disruption, indicating great potential for daily food packaging applications. •Hybrid films optimally coupled UV-resistance and durable antibacterial properties.•Proposed films showed quick antibacterial response to model strains within 5 min.•CNF/MWPPy-ZnO-PGHAPA-Cl showed superior UV stability compared with previous studies.•Favorable rechargeability was achieved after 24 h of UV exposure.•The films loaded with MWPPy-ZnO-PGHAPA would not cause toxicity.