Antibacterial and bacteria inhibiting properties of copper alginate fibers

To study the antibacterial and bacteria inhibiting properties of copper alginate fibers,Escherichia coli(E.coli),Pseudomonas aeruginosa,Staphylococcus aureus(S.aureus) and Bacillus subtilis were used as strains to evaluate the antibacterial properties of copper alginate fibers via agar diffusion and flash shaking methods.The antibacterial mechanism of the fibers was analyzed by using scanning electron microscopy(SEM).The results showed that copper alginate fibers have good antibacterial effects against Gram bacteria,both negative and positive.When contacted with the fiber,copper ion damages the cell wall of the bacteria,thus changes the osmotic pressure of the cell wall and results in obvious change of the morphology of the bacteria,this affects the normal metabolism of the bacteria and leads to their cracking and death.Copper alginate fibers also show rather good bacteria inhibiting property.