Antimicrobial biofunctional natural rubber nanocomposites reinforced with a synergistic hybrid filler for medical glove applications

This study investigates antimicrobial natural rubber (NR) nanocomposites reinforced with a synergistic hybrid filler consisting of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) and polylysine (PL) for medical glove applications. The nanocomposites with various CNC/PL ratios (1.5:0.5, 1:1, and 0.5:1.5 phr) were evaluated to optimize performance. The results identified the 1.5:0.5 phr CNC/PL ratio as the optimal formulation, delivering the most balanced combination of structural integrity, mechanical robustness and bioactive protection. Key findings include a tensile strength of 27.0 ± 1.2 MPa and a tear strength of 42.0 ± 3.5 N/mm, both of which significantly exceed standard medical glove requirements. The hybrid system exhibited superior durability, with tear resistance actually increasing to 46.0 ± 4.0 N/mm after thermo-oxidative aging. FTIR and SEM analyses confirmed strong hydrogen-bonding interactions and uniform filler dispersion. Furthermore, the composites demonstrated potent antimicrobial activity, producing inhibition zones of 9–11 mm for Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. These findings confirm that the NR/CNC/PL nanocomposite is a highly effective multifunctional material for specific applications in next-generation medical devices, including surgical gloves, examination gloves, condoms, catheters and other medical applications.