Single polyelectrolyte multilayer fabricated by covalent layer-by-layer assembly of TA and PEI and its antibacterial application via incorporated Ag particles

The purpose of this report is to provide an overview on the study of the fabrication of a multilayer by Covalent Layer-by-Layer Assembly for Antibacterial Application via incorporated silver particles. This project investigates the use of this layer-by-layer method to create multiple bilayers of terepthalaldehyde (TA) and polyethyleneimine (PEI) on glass surface, with the incorporation of silver nanoparticles in order to effectively achieve anti-bacterial effect. Bacterial contamination has all along posed as a serious problem in many areas which requires sterility to minimize microbial growth. This report highlights the combination of the use of both the aqueous layer-by-layer deposition technique, as well as the nanoparticle surface modification chemistry, to construct thin film coatings that fulfil the antibacterial function. Together with the silver ions and nanoparticles embedded within the bilayersm, they are able to achieve this objective by preventing the adhesion of bacteria on the surface through their anti-adhesive property, acting as biocides to the bacteria through contact killing, and lastly through the sustained release of the antibacterial agents from a reservoir of silver particles. Due to the widespread adverse social and economic consequence resulted from the undesired bacterial growth on equipment, in particular medical devices, there remains much incentive to perform this work for future applications in various industries.Bachelor of Engineering (Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering