Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial activity and toxicity of polylysine (PL), polyarginine (PA), nanocellulose conjugated with polylysine (NCPL), and nanocellulose conjugated with polyarginine (NCPA). Here, nanocellulose was synthesised by hydrolysis, and then conjugated with PL and PA by carbodiimide cross-linker. Next, the antibacterial and antifungal properties of PL, PA, NCPL, and NCPA were tested by micro-dilution method and inhibition zone. Also, their toxicity on the mouse skin cells and mouse esophageal cells was evaluated by MTT assay. This study showed that PL and NCPL had higher antifungal activity than PA and NCPA. On the other hand, PA and NCPA had higher antibacterial activity than PL and NCPL. MTT assay showed that NCPL and NCPA had less toxicity than PL and PA. The authors suggest that both NCPL and NCPA are good candidates to use inside of foodstuffs, in the food packaging and textile materials. Copyright © 2015 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.