The set of polyethylene/clay nanocomposites with increasing amount of antimicrobial nanofiller (3, 6 and 10 wt%) was prepared by melt compounding procedure. The antimicrobial drug chlorhexidine diacetate was loaded into natural clay mineral vermiculite and also to its monoionic sodium form and then these organoclay nanofillers were incorporated into polymeric matrix. The structure of prepared organoclays and nanocomposites was studied by X-ray diffraction analysis and Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy. Further thermal properties of polyethylene/clay nanocomposites were investigated by thermogravimetric analysis and the surface roughness was evaluated by atomic force microscopy. Finally, organoclays and polyethylene/clay nanocomposites were tested for antimicrobial activity against bacterial strains Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and yeast Candida albicans. Prepared samples showed a very good antimicrobial activity with long lasting effect. In the case of polyethylene/clay nanocomposites we observed some differences in antimicrobial action between two used antimicrobial nanofillers. These results suggested great potential of using the polymer/clay nanocomposites in the wide range of antimicrobial applications.

Institute of Geonics AS CR Studentská 1768 9 CZ 708 00 Ostrava Poruba Czech Republic

Institute of Public Health Ostrava Centre of Clinical Laboratories Partyzánské náměstí 7 CZ 702 00 Ostrava Czech Republic

Nanotechnology Centre VŠB Technical University of Ostrava CZ 708 00 Ostrava Poruba Czech Republic

Regional Materials Science and Technology Centre VŠB Technical University of Ostrava CZ 708 00 Ostrava Poruba Czech Republic

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