Novel Antimicrobial Polyelectrolytes Nanofilm Coatings Using the Layer By Layer Technique

A novel method using the layer by layer (LBL) technique was investigated to deposit polyelectrolytes with antibacterial properties. A glass substrate was coated by a cationic biguanide followed by the anionic polystyrene sulfonate until a total of twenty layers were deposited. The layers thickness was measured by ellipsometry and the surface morphology was scanned by an atomic force microscope. The layers thickness reached 60nm. The coated and uncoated glass was immersed into tubes containing a nutrient broth media inoculated with Proteus sp., (a gram negative , rod, glucose fermenting bacteria) in a concentration of (~105 cells/mL) and incubated at 37oC for 24 hours. The SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope) micrographs showed a significant reduction in the settlement of Proteus sp. Colonies on the glass coated with polyelectrolytes.