Modification of PVC using Mg/Al-LDH intercalated with supramolecular sulfonated calix[4]arene/zinc and investigation of its antibacterial activity

This study focuses on the preparation of a new polymeric nanocomposite based on the modified PVC using Mg/Al layered double hydroxide (LDH) intercalated with p-sulfonated calix[4]arene (SCA) and zinc metal sites (Zn) by solution casting technique (MLDH-Zn@PVC). Concurrently, the LDH was intercalated by an anion exchange reaction utilizing the SCA molecules and Zn metal sites using Zn(NO3)2 salt (MLDH and MLDH-Zn). The FT-IR, 1HNMR, PXRD, TGA, FE-SEM, and EDS/MAPP analyses showed the successful preparation of all materials. Additionally, the antibacterial activities (MIC and Bacterial Adhesion tests) of LDH, PVC, MLDH-Zn, and MLDH-Zn@PVC nanocomposite against the Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Escherichia coli were investigated. Inhibition zone results of MLDH-Zn@PVC nanocomposite against Staphylococcus aureus (21 ± 1), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (18 ± 1), Escherichia coli (15 ± 1), and Klebsiella pneumoniae (13 ± 1) have been obtained. Other materials also have an antibacterial effect against the four bacteria studied, but compared to MLDH-Zn@PVC nanocomposite, it has shown a lesser effect. The effect order of nanocomposites is as follows; MLDH-Zn@PVC > MLDH-Zn > LDH > PVC, respectively. The greatest effect was observed on the Staphylococcus aureus > Pseudomonas aeruginosa > Escherichia coli > Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteria, respectively. The anti-adhesion study showed that MLDH-Zn@PVC appeared to be more non-adherent agent towards Staphylococcus aureus than Escherichia coli. These results showed that the introduced nanocomposite could be a suitable non-adherent agent for gram-positive bacteria.