Antimicrobial and antifungal studies of polymer nanocomposites with 2D nanomaterials

Polymer nanocomposites which possess outstanding antimicrobial efficacies are potential materials for food packaging applications. Amidst the several biodegradable synthetic polymers, Polyvinyl alcohol exhibits excellent biocompatibility and are very economical. A new hybrid composite based on Polyvinyl alcohol with GO and reduced rGO with Potassium Chloride as salt spacer was synthesized using solvent cast method. The antibacterial activity of the prepared films was explored against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 7903) Escherichia coli (ATCC 8739) Campylobacter jejuni (ATCC 29428) Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 6538). The antifungal activity was studied against Candida albicans (ATCC 10231) Trichodermaharzianum (ATCC 90237) Aspergillus Niger (ATCC 6275). Polymer nanocomposite with GO as dispersant (4 wt%) have shown inhibitory activity with respect to P. aeruginosa, E. coli and C. jejuni. Polymer nanocomposite with rGO as dispersant (4 wt%) have inhibitory activity against E. coli, C. albicans and against P. aeruginosa using well diffusion method.