First evidence of the antibacterial property of SnO2 surface electrochemically modified in the presence of bovine serum albumin and chloride ions

When conductive SnO2 coatings are held under anodic polarization in the presence of bovine serum albumin and chloride ions, which are oxidized leading to hypochlorous acid, a thick organic film is formed onto the electrode. The aim of this letter is to show that this organic film present at SnO2 surface inhibits the growth of bacteria. This study was conducted using Escherichia coli bacteria. The scanning electron microscopy observations of surface samples after contact with bacteria clearly show that the number of bacteria present on the electrochemically pre-treated SnO2 surfaces is much lower than on the reference samples. This result underlies the antibacterial nature of the organic film formed onto SnO2 during the electrochemical treatment.