An overview of the antimicrobial properties of lignocellulosic materials

Pathogenic microbes are a major source of health and environmental problems, mostly due to their easy proliferation on most surfaces. Currently, new classes of antimicrobial agents are under development to prevent microbial adhesion and biofilm formation. However, they are mostly from synthetic orig...

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Published inMolecules (Basel, Switzerland) Vol. 26; no. 6; pp. 1 - 20
Main Authors Lobo, Flávia Cristina Marques, Franco, Albina Ribeiro, Fernandes, Emanuel Mouta, Reis, R. L.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Switzerland Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI) 20.03.2021
MDPI
MDPI AG
Subjects
Anti-Infective Agents - chemistry
Bacteria
Fungi
Lignin - chemistry
Lignocellulosic materials
Natural fibers
Review
Science & Technology
bacteria
fungi
lignocellulosic materials
natural fibers
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Summary:Pathogenic microbes are a major source of health and environmental problems, mostly due to their easy proliferation on most surfaces. Currently, new classes of antimicrobial agents are under development to prevent microbial adhesion and biofilm formation. However, they are mostly from synthetic origin and present several disadvantages. The use of natural biopolymers such as cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin, derived from lignocellulosic materials as antimicrobial agents has a promising potential. Lignocellulosic materials are one of the most abundant natural materials from renewable sources, and they present attractive characteristics, such as low density and biodegradability, are low-cost, high availability, and environmentally friendly. This review aims to provide new insights into the current usage and potential of lignocellulosic materials (biopolymer and fibers) as antimicrobial materials, highlighting their future application as a novel drug-free antimicrobial polymer. This research was partially funded through the project TERM RES Hub—Infraestrutura Científica para a Engenharia de Tecidos e Medicina Regenerativa, Refª Norte-01-0145-FEDER02219015, co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER) through the North Regional Operational Programme (NORTE2020) and national funds, by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT).
ISSN:1420-3049
1420-3049
DOI:10.3390/molecules26061749