Lipopeptide and zinc oxide nanoparticles blended polyvinyl alcohol-based nanocomposite films as antimicrobial coating for biomedical applications

[Display omitted] •Novel polyvinyl alcohol-based films containing lipopeptides and ZnONPs were prepared.•Polyvinyl alcohol films were found to be active against biofilm-forming microorganisms.•The films were also found to be non-hemolytic with pH compatible to the skin.•The developed films were promising material to be used as an antimicrobial coating. Infections caused by the biofilm-forming multi-drug resistant organisms are increasing day by day. In this study, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) based antimicrobial membranes were developed with the incorporation of lipopeptides (LPs) and zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) by solvent casting method. The fabricated membranes were further characterised by the FT-IR, SEM, UV–vis spectroscopy, TGA and mechanical analysis. The results showed enhanced optical, thermal, mechanical and water barrier properties for the membranes engineered with LPs and ZnONPs. The membranes also showed excellent activity against the biofilm-forming bacteria such as the Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Also, the developed nanocomposite membranes were found to be hemocompatible with enhanced dressing pH features. Hence, the developed nanocomposite membranes can be considered to have promising biomedical application as antimicrobial coating.