Conference Proceedings
Assessment of the effect of nitric oxide-based treatments on biofilm formation: A comparison with biocides used in paint formulations and the treatment of cultural heritage
Caroline Kyi, Emma ROUSE, Robyn Sloggett, Sharon Cather, Carl SCHIESSER
Proceedings of the International conference organized on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Center for Research on the Conservation of Collections - CRCC Paris, 23, 24, 25 October 2013 | Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique | Published : 2013
Abstract
Biocides are chemical substances used in the treatment of damaging biological growth. They are commonly added as ‘preservatives’ to paint formulations to prevent biofouling. They are also applied in the control of organisms responsible for the biodecay of cultural material. The demand for sustainable, low-toxic alternatives to conventional biocide use, requires a more sophisticated approach to biocidal systems (Denyer & Stewart 1998). We have investigated how the anti-bacterial properties of the free-radical molecule nitric oxide (NO•), when used in combination with commercial biocides, can enhance their efficacy.