Scholarly record

IR SPECTROSCOPIC STUDY OF POLYMERIC COMPOSITES FILLED WITH ZNO HAVING ANTIFUNGAL PROPERTIES

T.N. Nosenko

Abstract

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO) are a promising material for a variety of applications due to their unique characteristics and properties, including optical, chemical, semiconductor and piezoelectric. A lot of scientific papers are devoted to the antibacterial action of ZnO nanoparticles. As the main mechanism responsible for the antimicrobial action of ZnO in modern studies, photocatalytic generation of hydrogen peroxide H2O2 is indicated. In addition, in a number of studies it was found that the slowing of bacterial growth upon contact with ZnO is due to the penetration of nanoparticles and the subsequent destruction of the cell membrane. The size effect of antibacterial activity of ZnO nanoparticles has not been fully established and opinions differ on this score: it was shown in that smaller ZnO nanoparticles have a higher toxicity, however, Franklin et al showed that the antimicrobial effect of ZnO is not depends on the size of the nanoparticles. As shown by the studies described in previous works, polymeric nanocomposites based on acrylates with ZnO nanoparticles show pronounced antifungal and antibacterial activity. However, some antifungal activity is also manifested by a polymer matrix based on acrylate monomers that does not contain ZnO nanoparticles. This work is devoted to the study of chemical processes of hydration of nanocomposite polymeric materials with and without ZnO nanoparticles introduced. Polymer matrices based on UV-polymerization acrylates of 2-Carboxyethyl acrylate (2Carb, Aldrich No. 552348) and Bisphenol A glycerolate (1 glycerol / phenol) diacrylate (Bis A, Aldrich No. 411167) were investigated. As filler, ZnO (local Russian supplier REACHEM, powder) was used. Polymer matrices of two-component composition were synthesized, one with the inclusion of ZnO nanoparticles, the other without them. The IR spectra of the resulting composites, as well as the IR spectra of the substances released into the water from the polymer matrixes, were analyzed. Study of IR spectra allows us to conclude that when placing the composite with ZnO nanoparticles in the water, more monomers and monomer salts are released into the aqueous medium, and an increased release of the carboxylate anion occurs as compared to the polymer that does not contain ZnO nanoparticles, which exhibit antifungal properties. Thus, this polymer composite is promising for applications in medicine, cosmetology and paint and varnish manufacture.

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