The evaluation of the in vitro antimicrobial properties of fibers functionalized by chitosan nanoparticles

In this work, chitosan (CS) and its water-soluble derivatives, N,N,N-trimethyl chitosans (TMC), were used in the form of solution and nanoparticles dispersions (CSNP) as an adsorbate for cellulose fibers in order to obtain bioactive functionality of fibers aimed toward use in tampons. To examine the usability of bioactive tampons it is extremely important to provide detailed information about tampons’ antimicrobial capacity regarding pathogen microorganisms (MOs), as well as for those responsible for healthy flora such as Lactobacillus sp. Thus, evaluation of the in vitro antimicrobial properties of functionalized fibers was performed in detail using the standard shake-flask test method (ASTM E2149) and “time-kill” method (non-standard method) against S. aureus, E. coli, and C. albicans. Both methods were compared. Susceptibility of Lactobacillus sp. to coated fibers was tested as well. Additionally, cytotoxic properties of fibers were evaluated as a further indicator of safety aspect of tampons functionalized by CS and TMC. The results show that specific functionalization of tampons using CS nanoparticles could improve tampon antimicrobial activity and offer a safety upgrade for the regular feminine cotton tampon, providing an attractive feature.