Preparation and characterization of antibacterial cobalt-exchanged natural zeolite/poly(vinyl alcohol) hydrogels

In the present study, potential application of the local clinoptilolite-rich natural zeolite in formulation of antibacterial hydrogels was investigated. The zeolite powder exchanged with cobalt(II) ions was used in preparation of the zeolite/poly(vinyl alcohol) hydrogel films in different amounts. The films were physically crosslinked by the freezing-thawing method and characterized for their crystallinity, surface and cross sectional morphology, chemical composition, thermal behaviour, mechanical properties, swelling and dissolution behaviours, and antibacterial activities against a Gram-negative bacteria. The films with 0.48 wt% and higher cobalt-exchanged zeolite contents showed antibacterial activity. Addition of the zeolite powder in the formulations did not cause significant changes in the other properties of the films.Turkish Republic Prime Ministry State Planning Organization (DPT-2006 K120690

Characteristics of the study population in Moramanga, 2011, and risk factors for leptospirosis.

<p>Characteristics of the study population in Moramanga, 2011, and risk factors for leptospirosis.</p

<i>Leptospira</i> strains used in this study.

<p><i>Leptospira</i> strains used in this study.</p

Percentage of lethality across the three mammal species during plague challenge experiments.

<p>Percentage of lethality across the three mammal species during plague challenge experiments.</p

DataLeptoPublished

DataLeptoPublishe

Minimum spanning tree of 4,098 SNPs for 19 <i>Y</i>. <i>pestis</i> isolates from Mahajanga.

<p>The origins of the strains are distinguished by colors. Strain name is mentioned close to the circle. Numbers on the branch reflect the number of SNPs between two circles.</p

Epidemiological characteristics of the 19 strains of <i>Y</i>. <i>pestis</i> used for SNP typing.

<p>Epidemiological characteristics of the 19 strains of <i>Y</i>. <i>pestis</i> used for SNP typing.</p

Comparison of the number of animals trapped in central areas in 1991 and 1995, and in both the central and peripheral areas from 1997 to 2014 in Mahajanga.

<p>Comparison of the number of animals trapped in central areas in 1991 and 1995, and in both the central and peripheral areas from 1997 to 2014 in Mahajanga.</p

Chronogram of plague epidemics and animal trappings in Mahajanga: C: Number of human confirmed cases; P: Number of presumptive cases; S: Number of human suspected cases.

<p>Sm: no. of <i>S</i>. <i>murinus</i> trapped (% of total captures). Arrows red: human epidemic, green: rodent capture.</p

Factors related to human plague.

<p>According to <a href="http://www.plosntds.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pntd.0002382#pntd.0002382-Duplantier1" target="_blank">[3]</a>, <a href="http://www.plosntds.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pntd.0002382#pntd.0002382-Rahelinirina1" target="_blank">[14]</a>, <a href="http://www.plosntds.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pntd.0002382#pntd.0002382-Migliani1" target="_blank">[20]</a>, <a href="http://www.plosntds.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pntd.0002382#pntd.0002382-Boisier1" target="_blank">[27]</a>, <a href="http://www.plosntds.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pntd.0002382#pntd.0002382-Rahalison1" target="_blank">[28]</a>.</p