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Antimicrobial Nanocomposites for Improving Indoor Air Quality

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Microbial Nanobionics

Part of the book series: Nanotechnology in the Life Sciences ((NALIS))

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Abstract

In modern society, the improvement in indoor air quality, especially airborne microbes, needs much attention to reduce the serious health issues caused by the notorious microbes present in the air. In the current scenario, natural product-based nanomaterials are considered safe and economical base materials for the development of air filters. Nanocomposites based on polymeric phase along with natural fibers have resulted in a high-performance solution due to the high surface area, low cost, biodegradability, and excellent mechanical and thermal properties. In addition, natural products of herbal origin such as essential oils or herbal extracts have tremendous antimicrobial potential against a wide range of microbes. Therefore, the combination of these herbals with existing nanocomposite surfaces would be able to provide high contact with microbes, and the delayed diffusion of active therapeutics from the surface adds a positive effect on the antimicrobial potential. Furthermore, herbs are historically proven antimicrobial agents and have provided important solutions to medical and environmental health concerns. Apart from that, the development of antibiotic resistance in bacterial strains is an alarming condition requiring exploration of novel antimicrobial agents and their proper utilization for reducing microbial infections. Therefore, first, novel essential oils or herbal extracts should be used for this purpose, and second, their combination with nanocomposites would be helpful in controlling their release to improve their antimicrobial abilities.

This chapter describes the importance of using nanocomposites with natural products to improve indoor air quality in terms of controlling airborne microbes. The chapter assesses the development of new biodegradable nanocomposites, their preparation, advantages, and also the potential application of herbal therapeutic molecules in improving indoor air quality. Currently, manufacturers of these types of air filters are able to provide newer and greener solutions and they may be employed for different industrial sectors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Agronomy and Soil Science Division, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India

    Disha Mishra & Puja Khare

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  1. Disha Mishra
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  2. Puja Khare
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  1. Department of Botany, Mahatma Gandhi Central University, Motihari, Bihar, India

    Ram Prasad

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Mishra, D., Khare, P. (2019). Antimicrobial Nanocomposites for Improving Indoor Air Quality. In: Prasad, R. (eds) Microbial Nanobionics. Nanotechnology in the Life Sciences. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-16383-9_11

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