Antimycotic Activity of Sumac Extract in Composites Based on Epoxidized Natural Rubber for Application in Footwear Soles Production

Abstract

Biofilms are attached to different kinds of surfaces or associated with interfaces. The microbial communities are often composed of multiple species, which interact between each other. Attachment is complex process, regulated by diverse characteristics of the growing media, substrates and cell surface. Biofilms have different effects, which can affect changes in surface properties of polymer carriers. Accumulated biomass may provoke negative effects by direct attack, which leads to destruction of polymer matrixes. An option to solve the problem is introduction of bioactive ingredient into the composite. The aim of our study was to find and propose bioactive ingredients, derived from renewable sources, particularly such exhibiting of antimycotic influence, which can be included to elastomeric composite materials. These materials can be used for obtaining of winter footwear soles with adhesion, increasing to various types of icy surfaces. The influence of introduced antimycotic additive, extracted from Cotinus coggygria plant, was investigated. Antimycotic activity of obtained plant extracts against two eukaryotic strains was investigated by diffusion method in agar broth. The formation of biofilms from Candida lypolitica and Candida albicans strains onto natural rubber vulcanizates, kinetics and growth of biofilms strains were also observed.

Keywords

• biofilms
• extract
• antimycotic effect
• elastomeric composite materials