Bioactivation of PET woven fabrics using alginate biopolymer and the bacteriocin nisin

Abstract

Bioactive antibacterial PET (polyethylene terephthalate) woven fabrics were produced by fixing a thin alginate coating with entrapped nisin at the PET fiber surface. These textiles may find applications in the field of hygiene or food packaging. In the first part of the study, thin solid alginate films (without nisin) capable of forming hydrogels in aqueous medium were deposited at the PET fiber surface and the properties of the resulting textiles characterized. Methods using padding with CaCl₂ solution before or after sodium alginate deposition, with or without a prior PET fiber surface activation with air atmospheric plasma, were used. The following properties of the functionalized PET textile were tested: the durability and cohesion of the alginate film to the fiber surface, in water and in dry conditions under friction; the surface properties of the functionalized textile; and the water and moisture absorption capacity of the alginate films. These properties depend on the film adhesion to PET fibers and on the degree of alginate crosslinking. Entrapped bioactive nisin in the alginate film imparted antibacterial properties to the woven polyester fabric against Staphylococcus aureus. However, differences in inhibition zone were due to the method of alginate film formation, which had an impact on the rate of release of nisin.