Atomic force microscopy study of the antibacterial effects of chitosans on Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus

• Published in: Ultramicroscopy Vol. 108; no. 10; pp. 1128 - 1134
• Main Authors: Eaton, Peter, Fernandes, João C., Pereira, Eulália, Pintado, Manuela E., Xavier Malcata, F.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.09.2008
• Subjects: Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; Antimicrobial; Atomic force microscopy; Cell wall; Chitooligosaccharides; Chitosan; Chitosan - pharmacology; Colony Count, Microbial; Escherichia coli; Escherichia coli - drug effects; Escherichia coli - growth & development; Escherichia coli - physiology; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Microscopy, Atomic Force - methods; Nanoindentation; Oligosaccharides - pharmacology; Staphylococcus aureus; Staphylococcus aureus - drug effects; Staphylococcus aureus - growth & development; Staphylococcus aureus - physiology; Antimicrobial; Atomic force microscopy; 62.20.−x; 82.35.Pq; Nanoindentation; Chitosan; Chitooligosaccharides; Cell wall; 87.64.Dz

Chitosan has been reported to be a non-toxic, biodegradable antibacterial agent. The aim of this work was to elucidate the relationship between the molecular weight of chitosan and its antimicrobial activity upon two model microorganisms, one Gram-positive ( Staphylococcus aureus) and one Gram-negat...