Cortesia / FCTUC
Bioplastic with curcumin
Researchers at the University of Coimbra develop innovative bioplastic with antibacterial properties for hospital use.
The solution is announced as innovative; It combines environmental sustainability with the combat of hospital infections resulting from multi -resistant bacteria.
The project is researchers from the Coimbra Chemistry Center (CQC), the Faculty of Science and Technology of the University of Coimbra (FTUC), in collaboration with the Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (CNC), also from UC.
Chama-se Natural-based antibacterial bioplastics: a synergic and sustainable approach for surface photo-decontamination (PhotoBioSyn) e combina ácido polilático (PLA) – um biodegradable bioplastic obtained from biomass – with Curcumin, A natural compound extracted from the curcuma root (turmeric), resulting in a material with antibacterial action when activated by light.
«We are creating a sustainable alternative to traditional hospital plasticswhich represent about 70% of waste and are one of the main vectors of multipresistent bacteria contamination. Preliminary results are promising, as these photosensitive bioplastics were able to inactivate multipresistent bacteria after a short time of light exposure, ”says coordinator Rafael Aroso, in a statement sent to ZAP.
The investigators team is working at scalability of the process for industrial production. The ultimate goal is to offer the hospital market a biodegradable, functional and economically viable product.
«In addition to the environmental impact, this solution may have a significant impact on public healthcontributing to the reduction of hospital infections, which affect millions of people a year in Europe, ”concludes researcher Rafael Aroso.
