Antimicrobial Activity of Composites-Based on Biopolymers

Abstract

Microorganisms have developed a resistance against some of the most conventional antibiotics. These microorganisms can be self-assembled, forming a microbial biofilm. A microbial biofilm formation is an inherent event on almost any surface, causing countless side effects on human health and the environment. Therefore, multiple scientific proposals have been developed based on renewable sources such as natural polymers. Natural polymers or biopolymers include cellulose, chitosan, starch, collagen, gelatin, hyaluronic acid, alginates, fibrin, and pectin, which are widely found in nature. The biopolymers have displayed many interesting properties, including biocompatibility and biodegradability. Nonetheless, these materials usually have no antimicrobial properties (except for the chitosan) by themselves. Therefore, antimicrobial agents have been incorporated into the natural polymeric matrix, providing an antimicrobial property to the biocomposite. Biocomposites consist of two different materials (one of natural origin) studied as biocompatible and biodegradable drug carriers of antimicrobial agents. In addition, due to the incorporation of antimicrobial agents, biocomposites can inhibit biofilm formation and bacteria proliferation on many surfaces. This review describes this using natural polymers as a platform of antimicrobial agents to form a biocomposite to eliminate or reduce biofilm formation on different surfaces.