Antibacterial Property and Biodegradation of PLA/PBS Nonwoven Fabric Coated with Mangosteen Pericarp Extract

In light of the eco-friendliness and antimicrobial property of mangosteen pericarp (MP), this research investigates the antibacterial activity of biodegradable poly(lactic acid) (PLA)/ poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) nonwoven fabric coated with MP extract. In the experiment, the MP extract concentrations were varied between 0 (uncoated), 0.3, 0.5, 1, 3, and 5 wt.%, and the experimental bacteria strains were Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus . The results revealed that the MP extract inhibited the growth of E. coli and S. aureus . The tensile strength and the MP extract concentration were positively correlated, while the elongation at break was inversely correlated with the MP extract concentration. Meanwhile, higher MP extract concentrations had minimal effect on the biodegradability of the MP-coated PLA/PBS nonwoven fabrics. Essentially, the MP extract holds promising potential as a natural antibiotic against the bacteria. Specifically, the novelty of this research lies in the use of mangosteen pericarp, an agricultural waste, in biodegradable nonwoven fabric to inhibit the bacterial growth.