NOVEL DENDRITIC POLYMER- FUNCTIONALIZED NANOSTRUCTURED CARBON-BASED MATERIALS WITH ANTIBACTERIAL PROPERTIES AND THEIR EFFECT IN PHOTOSYNTHETIC PROCESS

摘要

The current invention presents the development of innovative antibacterial hybrid nanocomposites obtained by the interaction of nanostructured carbon-based materials with functionalized dendritic polymers through electrostatic interactions or other intermolecular forces. Their dispersions in various solvents exhibit extreme stability, even at high concentrations (up to 10 mg/mL), for long periods (more than one year) without precipitation. Additionally, in the present invention, the antibacterial properties of these novel hybrid nanocomposites as well as their effect on photosynthesis are described for the first time. Specifically, these nanocomposites exhibit enhanced antibacterial properties at very low concentration (5µg/mL), while they cause an almost complete inhibition of Photosystem I in photosynthetic organisms. Furthermore, in this invention several applications of these antibacterial nanocomposites are presented and evaluated. Specifically, their incorporation or coating onto various materials and/or substrates, including polymers, metal, wood, woven and nonwoven textile materials, plastics, thermoplastics, synthetic or composite materials, etc., results in innovative surfaces with enhanced antibacterial properties. Finally, in order to evaluate and assess the antibacterial properties of the abovementioned nanocomposites and/or the surfaces resulting from their application, an in-situ, direct and instrumental method is invented, capable to quantify the antibacterial behaviour of any material, substrate or matrix at a relevant environment.