A Study on Antibacterial Activity of Natural Material Treated Cotton Fabric

천연물 가공 면포의 항균성 연구

Water-insoluble chitosan with molecular weight of 2,000,000, 500,000, 80,000, and 40,000 and more than 90% of degree of deacetylation were used to test antibacterial activity of chitosan against a pathogenic bacteria, methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA), which is being issued in the world. As experimental method, Agar plate Smear Method and Agar plate Contact Method were used. The moleculur weight of chitosan didn't exert significant influences on its antibacterial activity against MRSA but chitosan having molecular weight 40,000, 80,000 and 150,000 showed the excellent antibacterial activity. The antibacterial efHciency was excellent in applying it after chitosan was dissolved in acetic acid solution, while the antibacterial efficiency was not expressed nearly in case of applying after chitosan was dissolved in neutral water. Therefore, it is considered that chitosan can show the antibacterial efficiency only if a positive ion status of -NH₃/sup +/ is maintained. MIC of chitosan/acetic acid solution and cotton fabrics finished with chitosan/acetic acid solution showed in concentration of 0.05%.