Polymers Against Microorganisms

This book provides an introductory and general overview of advances in polymers towards their employment as antimicrobial materials. The author describes current approaches for avoiding microbial contamination, toward macro-molecular antibiotics, and prevention of antibiotic-resistant bacteria by use of polymers. He establishes the remaining issues and analyzes existing methodologies for treating bacterial infections and for preparing antimicrobial materials.

A comprehensive overview of different antimicrobial polymeric materials, their antimicrobial action modes and applications.

This book cover all types of microbe based polymers and their application in diverse sectors with special emphasis on agriculture. It collates latest research, methods, opinion, perspectives, and reviews dissecting the microbial origins of polymers, their production, design, and processing at industrial level, as well as improvements for specific industrial applications. Book also discusses recent advances in biopolymer production and their modification for amplifying the value. In addition, understanding of the microbial physiology and optimal conditions for polymer production are also explained. This compilation of scientific chapters on principles and practices of microbial polymers fosters the knowledge transfer among scientific communities, industries, and microbiologist and serves students, academicians, researchers for a better understanding of the nature of microbial polymers and application procedure for sustainable ecosystem

The pioneering guide on the design, processing, and testing of antimicrobial plastic materials and coatings The manifestation of harmful microbes in plastic materials used in medical devices and drugs, water purification systems, hospital equipment, textiles, and food packaging pose alarming health threats to consumers by exposing them to many serious infectious diseases. As a result, high demand for intensifying efforts in the R&D of antimicrobial polymers has placed heavy reliance on both academia and industry to find viable solutions for producing safer plastic materials. To assist researchers and students in this endeavor, Antimicrobial Polymers explores coupling contaminant-deterring biocides and plastics—focusing particular attention on natural biocides and the nanofabrication of biocides. Each chapter is devoted to addressing a key technology employed to impart antimicrobial behavior to polymers, including chemical modification of the polymers themselves. A host of relevant topics, such as regulatory matters, human safety, and environmental risks are covered to help lend depth to the book's vital subject matter. In addition, Antimicrobial Polymers: Discusses the design, processing, and testing of antimicrobial plastic materials Covers interdisciplinary areas of chemistry and microbiology Includes applications in food packaging, medical devices, nanotechnology, and coatings Details regulations from the U.S. (FDA and EPA) and EU as well as human safety and environmental concerns Achieving cleaner and more effective methods for improving the infection-fighting properties of versatile and necessary plastic materials is a goal that stretches across many scientific fields. Antimicrobial Polymers combines all of this information into one volume, exposing readers to preventive strategies that harbor vast potential for making exposure to polymeric products and surfaces a far less risky undertaking in the future.

Biocidal polymers are designed to inhibit or kill microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi and protozoans. This book summarizes recent findings in the synthesis, modification and characterization of various antimicrobial polymers ranging from plastics and elastomers to biomimetic and biodegradable polymers. Modifications with different antimicrobial agents as well as antimicrobial testing methods are described in a comprehensive manner.

The issue of biodamages comprises a wide range of scientific and practical tasks associated with protection of raw materials and products against damage by bacteria, fungi, insects and rodents during long-term storage, production, transportation and operation. The biodegradation is used for degradation and utilization of worn-out materials and articles. This research is urgent for ecology and the struggle against environmental contamination. The biodamage problem is both scientifically complex and practically diverse. Scientifically, it is based on the knowledge of material science, biology and chemistry.The first objective of this book is to provide detailed information on the three interrelated parts: bacteria and fungi (the source of biodamages); insects and rodents (materials and products depredators); and materials and products damaged by living organisms. The most modern data on morphology and physiology of biodegrading microorganisms are presented. The second objective of this book is to provide the reader with a systematisation of biological degradation on both natural and synthetic materials and products (plastics, textile, fibres, leather and fur, wood and so on). Problems of utilisation of polymeric wastes using microorganisms are discussed and main protection methods and technology for raw materials and semi-products against biodamages are shown. Practical recommendation for struggle against biodamage of materials by insects (moth, leather beetles, wood-fretters, cockroaches and termites) and rodents (mice and rats) are given.Since 1960 the biodamage problem received the official status as a large international and practical direction at the junction of sciences and practice of mankind and pooling efforts of various specialists. The final objective of this book is to illustrate that the problem of biodamages is very real today because it is relevant to many aspects of our everyday lives.This volume is intended to be a practical guide on biodamage and biodegradation of polymeric materials and a quick reference to students and researchers from academia and the industry.

Biocidal polymers are designed to inhibit or kill microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi and protozoans. This book summarizes recent findings in the synthesis, modification and characterization of various antimicrobial polymers ranging from plastics and elastomers to biomimetic and biodegradable polymers. Modifications with different antimicrobial agents as well as antimicrobial testing methods are described in a comprehensive manner.

Microbial extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) are the key components for the aggregation of microorganisms in biofilms, flocs and sludge. They are composed of polysaccharides, proteins, nucleic acids, lipids and other biological macromolecules. EPS provide a highly hydrated gel matrix in which microbial cells can establish stable synergistic consortia. Cohesion and adhesion as well as morphology, structure, biological function and other properties such as mechanical stability, diffusion, sorption and optical properties of microbial aggregates are determined by the EPS matrix. Also, the protection of biofilm organisms against biocides is attributed to the EPS. Their matrix allows phase separation in biofiltration and is also important for the degradation of particulate material which is of great importance for the self purification processes in surface waters and for waste water treatment.