Fig. 3: Schematic diagram of nanocellulose combined with a cationic polymer for antibacterial treatment of paper cultural heritage. | npj Heritage Science

Fig. 3: Schematic diagram of nanocellulose combined with a cationic polymer for antibacterial treatment of paper cultural heritage.

From: Contemporary applications of cellulose derivatives in conservation and restoration of paper, wood, textiles and painted cultural heritage

Fig. 3

This work is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. This figure illustrates the process of nanocellulose cooperating with a cationic polymer to achieve antibacterial treatment for paper cultural heritage. The green fibrous structure represents nanocellulose, and the light blue dots stand for cationic polymer; their combination enables the dispersion of cationic polymer and inhibits its aggregation. The cationic polymer carries positive charges (described as “positive charges” in text), and it adsorbs to substances with negative charges (described as “negative charges” in text) through electrostatic interaction, thus acting on the yellow layered structure, which is the phospholipid bilayer. The phospholipid bilayer corresponds to the cell membrane of microorganisms; after the above interactions, the contents of mould cells (the pink oval structure) flow out, thereby achieving the antibacterial effect. In this figure, the symbols correspond to: green fibrous structure for nanocellulose, light blue dots for cationic polymer, yellow layered structure for phospholipid bilayer, and pink oval structure for mould cells.

Back to article page