Functionalization of Polymer Surface with Antimicrobial Microcapsules.

The development of antimicrobial polymers is a priority for engineers fighting microbial resistant strains. Silver ions and silver nanoparticles can assist in enhancing the antimicrobial properties of microcapsules that release such substances in time which prolongs the efficiency of antimicrobial effects. Therefore, this study aimed to functionalize different polymer surfaces with antimicrobial core/shell microcapsules. Microcapsules were made of sodium alginate in shell and filled with antimicrobial silver in their core prior to application on the surface of polymer materials by dip-coating methodology. Characterization of polymers after functionalization was performed by several spectroscopic and microscopic techniques. After the characterization of polymers before and after the functionalization, the release of the active substances was monitored in time. The obtained test results can help with the calculation on the minimal concentration of antimicrobial silver that is encapsulated to achieve the desired amounts of release over time.