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Global Health Econ Sustain Antimicrobial eco-friendly material

Disposable medical devices are a major contributor information about this material can be found on the
to this waste, accounting for 70% of it, and are often manufacturer’s website (www.ecoshell.com.mx). According
manufactured using non-biodegradable polymers, as to the supplier, this BP does not cause contamination to the
previously mentioned (Gill et al., 2022). While proper environment once its life cycle concludes. BPs, known for
disposal of single-use plastic waste has a significant their affordability and durability, offer potential applications
environmental impact, it is challenging due to the in generating antimicrobial surfaces (Ali et al., 2023; Jiang
enduring nature of plastics, stemming from their positive et al., 2022; Li et al., 2022). They represent an alternative
attributes (chemical and physical). Although plastic waste to traditional plastic devices, with the added benefit of
largely consists of macroplastics, the real problem revolves antimicrobial properties, making them both promising
around microplastics (Tudor et al., 2019). Disposable and noteworthy (Kumar et al., 2018). One method to
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medical devices are abundant and continually contribute modify the novel Ecoshell BP material is through polymer
to environmental pollution. Examples include gauze, grafting. The grafting process involves introducing chains
catheters, patches, probes, bandages, and sample collection capable of immobilizing an antimicrobial agent on the
vessels, as well as intravenous and colostomy bags. While surface, preventing the growth of biofilms or pathogens
the impact of medical microplastics remains an ongoing (Muñoz-Bonilla & Fernández-García, 2012). Poly(4-vinyl
subject of study, research indicates that the presence of pyridine), abbreviated as poly(4VP), is a biomaterial that
microplastics in living organisms may signal serious can be grafted onto various surfaces using the “grafting-
environmental consequences resulting from the significant from” method, using chemical initiators (Sen et al., 2003) or
presence of microplastic waste (Chae & An, 2017; Eerkes- gamma irradiation (Flores-Rojas et al., 2023). In this work,
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Medrano et al., 2015; Geyer et al., 2017). we propose grafting poly(4VP) onto the Ecoshell BP matrix
Numerous manufacturers of disposable products, to load silver (a well-known antimicrobial agent) (Ghazzy
spanning from packaging and containers to housings et al., 2023; Mehta et al., 2023). The resulting material,
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and even high-tech devices, are currently exploring eco- named BP-g-4VP Ag, was examined as an antimicrobial
friendly alternatives to replace environmentally polluting agent against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas
materials (Abe et al., 2021; Avramescu, 2023; Bartolucci aeruginosa (Figure 1). These microorganisms are well-
et al., 2023). For instance, disposable cups are widely used known nosocomial pathogens and exhibit widespread
globally, and a complete transition to reusable cups may be
impractical. Thus, a viable ecological alternative using fully
or partially biodegradable or bio-based materials can help
reduce the waste from non-biodegradable or non-biobased
polymers, such as polypropylene (PP) or PS, which are
commonly used for manufacturing these containers
(Nisha et al., 2022). The term “bioplastic (BP)” usually
refers to bio-based and/or biodegradable materials, but it
extends to broader concepts. BPs are materials that meet
one or more of the following criteria: (i) Their monomers
for polymerization come from renewable sources, (ii) their
polymer matrix is extracted from renewable resources,
(iii) they are biodegradable, or (iv) they are produced
through biological processes. These criteria define the
different characteristics that a material must possess to be
considered a BP. The advantages of using bio-based and/or
bio-degradable plastics (named BPs) include diversifying
the acquisition and disposal of plastic materials, which
forms an integral part of a comprehensive strategy to
address pollution resulting from fuel-based plastics
(Moshood et al., 2022). Examples of this green approach
to BPs represent the path that global economies should Figure 1. Reuse of bioplastics, as BP-g-4VP Ag. (A) The material is a
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embrace for the future. commercial eco-cup. (B) Grafting with 4VP through the “grafting-from”
In this study, we investigated a BP material presented method using gamma radiation as an energy source. (C) Silver-loading
process. (D) Modified film and controls: (I) BP, (II) BP-g-4VP, (III)
by Ecoshell — specifically, a biodegradable cup composed BP Ag, and (IV) BP-g-4VP Ag. (E) Drawing of the evaluation against
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of a mixture of starch and aliphatic polyester. Detailed Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in vitro.
Volume 1 Issue 2 (2023) 2 https://doi.org/10.36922/ghes.1251