Utilization of supercritical carbon dioxide in fabrication of cellulose acetate films with anti-biofilm effects against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus

Abstract

This study discusses utilization of supercritical carbon dioxide for impregnation of cellulose acetate films with thymol in order to produce material with anti-biofilm activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. Analysis of anti-biofilm activity of cellulose acetate beads impregnated with thymol suggested that optimal thymol loading was in the range from 26% to 30% for efficient reduction of biofilm formation and eradication of pre-formed biofilms. Polymer films were fabricated by the solvent casting method from polymer solutions of different contents, and loaded with thymol using supercritical carbon dioxide at 15.5 MPa and 35 °C. The film containing 30% of thymol (F1 30%) exhibited substantial anti-adhesion properties inhibiting biofilm formation on its surface and considerably reduced formation of biofilms on the surrounding surfaces (up to 80%) by all tested strains including antibiotic resistant P. aeruginosa DM50 and methicillin-resistant S. aureus.