Synthesis, Characterization, and Antibacterial Potential of Poly(o-anisidine)/BaSO₄ Nanocomposites with Enhanced Electrical Conductivity

The poly(o-anisidine)/BaSO₄ nanocomposites were prepared by oxidative polymerization of o-anisidine monomer with BaSO₄ filler for the potential antibacterial properties of the composite materials. To achieve the optimal and tunable properties of the nanocomposites, the ratio of BaSO₄ filler was changed at the rates of 1%, 3%, 5%, 7%, and 10% with respect to matrix. Different analytical techniques, i.e., FTIR and UV-visible spectroscopy, were employed for functional identification and optical absorption of the poly(o-anisidine)/BaSO₄ nanocomposites. The FTIR data revealed the significant interaction between POA and BaSO₄, as well as the good absorption behavior of the UV-visible spectra. The conducting properties were controllable by varying the load percentage of the BaSO₄ filler. Furthermore, different bacterial strains, i.e., Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Gram-negative) and Staphylococcus aureus (Gram-positive), were used to evaluate the antibacterial activity of the POA/BaSO₄ nanocomposites. The largest zones of inhibition 0.8 and 0.9 mm were reached using 7% and 10% for Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, respectively.