Influence of Plant Additives on Antimicrobial Properties of Glass-Fabric-Reinforced Epoxy Composites Used in Railway Transport

Overview

Journal Materials (Basel)

Publisher MDPI

Date 2024 Sep 28

PMID 39336407

Authors

Aleksandra Wegier

Filip Kazmierczyk

Magdalena Efenberger-Szmechtyk

Angelina Rosiak

Joanna Kaluzna-Czaplinska

Anna Masek

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The aim of this research was to explore the innovative use of natural additives, containing phytochemicals with proven antimicrobial effects, in the production of epoxy-glass composites. This study was based on information regarding the antimicrobial effects of phytochemicals present in , , and . The additives were subjected to a gas chromatography (GC) analysis to determine their composition, and, subsequently, they were used to prepare resin mixtures and to produce epoxy-glass composites. Samples of the modified materials were tested against , , and . In addition, flammability and durability tests were also performed. It was found that the strongest biocidal properties were demonstrated by the material with the addition of cistus, which caused a reduction of microorganisms by 2.13 log units (), 1.51 log units (), and 0.81 log units (). The same material also achieved the most favorable results of strength tests, with the values of flexural strength and tensile strength reaching 390 MPa and 280 MPa, respectively. Public transport is a place particularly exposed to various types of pathogens. Currently, there are no solutions on the railway market that involve the use of composites modified in this respect.

References

Espanani H, Faghfoori Z, Izadpanah M, Babadi V . Toxic effect of nano-zinc oxide. Bratisl Lek Listy. 2015; 116(10):616-20. DOI: 10.4149/bll_2015_119. View

Ly Y, Leuko S, Moeller R . An overview of the bacterial microbiome of public transportation systems-risks, detection, and countermeasures. Front Public Health. 2024; 12:1367324. PMC: 10961368. DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1367324. View

Slavin Y, Asnis J, Hafeli U, Bach H . Metal nanoparticles: understanding the mechanisms behind antibacterial activity. J Nanobiotechnology. 2017; 15(1):65. PMC: 5627441. DOI: 10.1186/s12951-017-0308-z. View

Park H, Choi K, Shin I . Antimicrobial activity of isothiocyanates (ITCs) extracted from horseradish (Armoracia rusticana) root against oral microorganisms. Biocontrol Sci. 2013; 18(3):163-8. DOI: 10.4265/bio.18.163. View

Zalegh I, Akssira M, Bourhia M, Mellouki F, Rhallabi N, Salamatullah A . A Review on sp.: Phytochemical and Antimicrobial Activities. Plants (Basel). 2021; 10(6). PMC: 8232106. DOI: 10.3390/plants10061214. View

Bahadar H, Maqbool F, Niaz K, Abdollahi M . Toxicity of Nanoparticles and an Overview of Current Experimental Models. Iran Biomed J. 2015; 20(1):1-11. PMC: 4689276. DOI: 10.7508/ibj.2016.01.001. View

Kaiser S, Mutters N, Blessing B, Gunther F . Natural isothiocyanates express antimicrobial activity against developing and mature biofilms of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Fitoterapia. 2017; 119:57-63. DOI: 10.1016/j.fitote.2017.04.006. View

Sienkiewicz N, Dominic M, Parameswaranpillai J . Natural Fillers as Potential Modifying Agents for Epoxy Composition: A Review. Polymers (Basel). 2022; 14(2). PMC: 8782032. DOI: 10.3390/polym14020265. View

Bertani R, Bartolozzi A, Pontefisso A, Quaresimin M, Zappalorto M . Improving the Antimicrobial and Mechanical Properties of Epoxy Resins via Nanomodification: An Overview. Molecules. 2021; 26(17). PMC: 8434237. DOI: 10.3390/molecules26175426. View

10.

Weerawatanakorn M, Wu J, Pan M, Ho C . Reactivity and stability of selected flavor compounds. J Food Drug Anal. 2017; 23(2):176-190. PMC: 9351765. DOI: 10.1016/j.jfda.2015.02.001. View

11.

Gafrikova M, Galova E, Sevcovicova A, Imreova P, Mucaji P, Miadokova E . Extract from Armoracia rusticana and its flavonoid components protect human lymphocytes against oxidative damage induced by hydrogen peroxide. Molecules. 2014; 19(3):3160-72. PMC: 6271614. DOI: 10.3390/molecules19033160. View

12.

Singh G, Kapoor I, Singh P, De Heluani C, de Lampasona M, Catalan C . Chemistry, antioxidant and antimicrobial investigations on essential oil and oleoresins of Zingiber officinale. Food Chem Toxicol. 2008; 46(10):3295-302. DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2008.07.017. View

13.

Simha Martynkova G, Valaskova M . Antimicrobial nanocomposites based on natural modified materials: a review of carbons and clays. J Nanosci Nanotechnol. 2014; 14(1):673-93. DOI: 10.1166/jnn.2014.8903. View

14.

Bruna T, Maldonado-Bravo F, Jara P, Caro N . Silver Nanoparticles and Their Antibacterial Applications. Int J Mol Sci. 2021; 22(13). PMC: 8268496. DOI: 10.3390/ijms22137202. View

15.

Ceyhan-Guvensen N, Keskin D . Chemical content and antimicrobial properties of three different extracts of Mentha pulegium leaves from Mugla Region, Turkey. J Environ Biol. 2017; 37(6):1341-46. View

16.

Tiran Gunasena M, Rafi A, Afif Mohd Zobir S, Hussein M, Ali A, Bashir Kutawa A . Phytochemicals Profiling, Antimicrobial Activity and Mechanism of Action of Essential Oil Extracted from Ginger ( Roscoe cv. Bentong) against Causative Agent of Bacterial Panicle Blight Disease of Rice. Plants (Basel). 2022; 11(11). PMC: 9182640. DOI: 10.3390/plants11111466. View

17.

Romeo L, Iori R, Rollin P, Bramanti P, Mazzon E . Isothiocyanates: An Overview of Their Antimicrobial Activity against Human Infections. Molecules. 2018; 23(3). PMC: 6017699. DOI: 10.3390/molecules23030624. View

18.

Albratty M, Alhazmi H, Meraya A, Najmi A, Alam M, Rehman Z . Spectral analysis and Antibacterial activity of the bioactive principles of Sargassum tenerrimum J. Agardh collected from the Red sea, Jazan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Braz J Biol. 2021; 83:e249536. DOI: 10.1590/1519-6984.249536. View

19.

Dallaev R, Pisarenko T, Papez N, Sadovsky P, Holcman V . A Brief Overview on Epoxies in Electronics: Properties, Applications, and Modifications. Polymers (Basel). 2023; 15(19). PMC: 10574936. DOI: 10.3390/polym15193964. View

20.

Wang X, Shen Y, Thakur K, Han J, Zhang J, Hu F . Antibacterial Activity and Mechanism of Ginger Essential Oil against and . Molecules. 2020; 25(17). PMC: 7504760. DOI: 10.3390/molecules25173955. View