Natural substances can make plastic antibacterial
The Thuringian Institute of Textile and Plastics Research (TITK) has made significant strides in the development of antimicrobial plastics. These advancements are particularly pertinent to applications in medical technology, textiles, household goods, and food packaging.
The antibacterial, fungicidal, and bacteriostatic treatment of plastics is a focal point of TITK’s current research. By incorporating antimicrobial additives into polymeric materials, plastics can be endowed with specific properties. Depending on the additives used, these plastics can exhibit bactericidal, fungicidal, or virucidal effects.TITK has developed patented methods for the antibacterial treatment of plastics. These methods enhance the effectiveness of conventional agents like metal ions by optimizing them through modified carrier polymers. Additionally, TITK is exploring the use of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) as an alternative approach.Simultaneously, TITK is investigating innovative strategies involving natural substances as antimicrobial agents. Furthermore, research is underway on incorporating bacteriophages as components specifically targeting antibacterial efficacy in plastics.
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Antiviral Treatment of Plastics
Viruses can remain infectious on inanimate surfaces for extended periods. Addressing this challenge, TITK has conducted foundational research on developing virus-inactivating polymer coatings for plastic surfaces.These coatings are based on polyelectrolytic substances. Immunological methods have demonstrated that these coatings not only bind viruses but also destroy their envelope proteins, thereby preventing infection of host cells.TITK’s research underscores that integrating polymer science with antimicrobial technologies is a promising approach to producing functionalized plastics with enhanced hygiene properties.
